The assumption that greater education levels of a given population leads to better employability levels thanks to higher education institutions (HEI) is widely known. However, most of the research related to HEI is focused on the determination of efficiency levels from an eminently academic perspective. The objective of this research is to carry out a comparative analysis of the efficiency degree of Latin American universities in terms of labor insertion for their graduate alumni, in order to evaluate the Sustainable Development Goal 8 related to decent work and economic growth.

The data enveloping analysis (DEA) methodology was implemented. Main results showed different levels of labor efficiency among the studied institutions that were classified into eight groups of universities. Likewise, it was noted that Latin American university students showed employment levels above those of workers with lower levels of education and training.

Purpose: This research aims to analyze the knowledge structure related to the image of the cities as a tool for urban governance in Mercosur context. Method: A research synthesis was applied to analyze and discuss (1) theoretical contributions, (2) urban image ontology and deontology, and (3) the challenges of urban image as a tool for urban governance in Mercosur context. Originality / Relevance: We synthesized the theoretical contributions, the understanding of urban image ontology and deontology, and the urban image challenges in urban branding and city branding as a tool for urban governance in Mercosur context.

Results: Findings on urban image in Mercosur context reveal that: (1) regional research is aligned with seminal one, stating that socioeconomic inclusion, sustainability, smartness, stakeholder convergence and satisfaction, and city attractiveness are essential parts of urban image as an urban governance tool for sustainable urban development; (2) urban image has been considered a tool for promoting the urban development, management, and governance, which has varied understandings for diverse urban stakeholders; and (3) the main regional challenges. Theoretical / Methodological Contributions: We endorse seminal research arguments on the role of urban image in urban governance through research synthesis on urban image in Mercosur context, considering regional challenges and perspectives. Social / Managerial Contributions: Regional and local communities have their needs met, and bottom-up approach, sustainable development, and democracy are encouraged in urban governance.

Responding to environmental concerns is a new indication of innovativeness, allowing businesses to achieve competitive advantages by executing innovative activities that benefit individuals and the entire community. Much intention has been retained in this perspective on “green employee creativity.” However, few studies have examined the combined effect of green creativity from relations between people and organizational practices. As a result, we sought to explain the variation in employees’ green creativity by investigating relations of four factors outside of the organizational context (transformational leadership, green innovation strategy, green human resources management—GHRM, and green process engagement) with individual factors (such as employees’ green creativity).

Data were retrieved from 150 employees pertaining to electronic companies. Data were statistically analyzed by SmartPLS software. Main results revealed that green transformational leadership positively affects employee green creativity, GHRM, and green process engagement play a significant mediating role in the relation between green transformational leadership and employee green creativity. Furthermore, the green innovation strategy significantly moderates transformational leadership and green process engagement. This effect is improved when the level of green innovation strategy is high rather than low.

This research aimed to analyze the meanings that permeate collector’s practices when collecting fountain pens. Based on a nethnography conducted in a social network group of collectors, interactions and interviews were carried for data collection. Main findings showed that, for the collector, the object’s meanings are built on the continuous socialization of information and images about fountain pens mediated by cyberspace. These practices reinforce the meanings of being a collector and underline shared beliefs and narrow consumption patterns. Displaying the possessed objects means the acceptance ritual in a specific group and this belonging results in social recognition and reputation to the possessor. The studied virtual community is a space for resignification of collecting practices, reinforcing the sense of fellowship among members.

Fear of decreasing the collection, financial problems, nostalgia, heritage, search for immortality, hobbies, possessiveness, passion, passing rituals, relatives’ criticism, and constant escapes from reality were identified in these collecting practices. This research has, as main contribution to theory, is that we identified how collectors built the meaning of collecting fountain pens and socializing their pieces/histories thanks to the mediated way of meaning construction. Through the internet and specialized communities, collectors found a way of building and strengthening the meaning and their beliefs in a way that they would not do in real life.

Stakeholder-orientation is critical to fostering sustainable urban development through synergic collaborations among urban stakeholders. However, although Stakeholder Value Creation (SVC) has been widely explored in sustainable organizations, little attention has been given to SVC in Urban Sustainability. Thus, this research explored the conceptual connections between SVC and Urban Sustainability using a new methodological protocol based on a Sequential Mixed Method Research design. The main findings revealed that the social, economic, and institutional dimensions of Urban Sustainability are fully integrated into the SVC framework; however, better integration of the Environmental Dimension is needed. Therefore, this dyadic phenomenon can currently be classified as unsustainable or weak sustainability.

Additionally, the critical characteristics of SVC with Urban Sustainability are: stakeholder engagement; stakeholder cooperation; ethics of capitalism; satisfaction of stakeholders’ needs by self-organization and learning capacities, diversity, trust, common meaning, and consensus; sustainable economic development; innovation ecosystems; sharing economy; circular economy; technical resources; social capital; smart sustainable cities; and energy efficiency. Finally, we proposed a framework for Sustainable SVC in Cities, in which SVC is a means for achieving Urban Sustainability and better integrating the environmental dimension. Environmental issues, environmental management, social entrepreneurship, non-human stakeholders, and stakeholder proximity are promising perspectives in the framework.