International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies (9 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwahs fight for gender-inclusive climate policy in Namibia  
  by Shreya Jajoo, Kenneth Levitt, Joseph C. Santora 
  Abstract: In December 2024, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah became Namibias first female president, leading a nation facing severe climate risks, entrenched gender inequality, and economic dependence on extractive industries. With over 80% of the country arid or semi-arid, climate change disproportionately affected rural women key food producers often excluded from decision making. Nandi-Ndaitwah aimed to integrate gender equity into climate policy by expanding community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), introducing gender quotas in environmental bodies, and securing climate finance for women-led adaptation projects. Her agenda aligned with the UNFCCC Gender Action Plan and the SDGs but met resistance from traditional leaders, corporations, and factions within her SWAPO party. Facing this opposition, she weighed three strategies: bold nationwide reform, incremental regional pilots, or reframing gender equity as an economic necessity. Each path presented trade-offs, offering a case study in leadership, climate governance, and gender politics in post-liberation democracies.
  Keywords: Africa; climate resilience; environment; gender inclusive; intersectional; leadership; Namibia; politics; sustainable development.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2026.10075832
   
  
• Assessing the impact of an NGO on the identity construction of homeless youth: the CASP case, a French NGO  
  by Julien Billion, Catherine Lejealle, Pascale Ezan 
  Abstract: The Centre d’Action Sociale Protestant (CASP) is a French non-profit organisation (NGO) recognised as being of public utility, whose mission focuses on combating social exclusion. It operates several support programs aimed at helping homeless youth reintegrate into society. Juliana Haure is a facility director who oversees the reception and support of homeless youth in a district of Paris, France. In May 2025, she began to question the impact of the NGO’s actions on the identity construction of these young people. With the support of a researcher, she interviewed 20 of them in order to draw managerial implications. This case study analyses the motivations of young homeless to construct and maintain one’s self-identity. Additionally, the study examines their agency and the way it could be used by NGO. Finally, it makes recommendations for practitioners.
  Keywords: homeless; self-identity; motivations; agency.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2026.10076179
   
  
• The double-edged impact of non-profit organisations on homeless youth: value creation and destruction: the case of Les Copains de Bastien  
  by Christelle Quero, Julien Billion, Catherine Lejealle 
  Abstract: This case study provides a comprehensive understanding of value creation and destruction of NGOs dealing with homeless people. Learners develop an appreciation of how NGOs can create and destroy value and deal with young homeless turning points. The case deals with Stephane Petillon, founder of Copains de Bastien, a chocolate factory with a social mission: to employ homeless individuals and support them in their journey of personal transformation. This case gives insights of social marketing about helping homeless more effectively to support their personal transformation. It also shows how NGOs operational choices can either support or hinder homeless youths personal transformation and social reintegration.
  Keywords: non-profit organisation; NGO; value creation; value destruction; turning point; homeless.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2026.10077250
   
  
• A case study on integrating real-world data infrastructure development into an undergraduate data science curriculum through internships  
  by Nicholas Harkiolakis, Abhijit Dasgupta, Akul Ameya, Aayush Aneja, Kayana Agarwal, Maulik Bhardwaj, Ayati Arora, Cahyani Putri, Harshitha Senthilkumar 
  Abstract: Experiential learning is vital in undergraduate data science, yet little is known about how infrastructure-centred projects shape learning. This case study examines a summer internship where seven students built a client-server system for research on stock-market emergence, including data ingestion, database design, query optimisation, and interface development. Reflections and feedback indicate gains in technical competence, problem-solving, and professional identity. The main difficulty was the scale of financial data, which created bottlenecks, costs, and provider-reliability issues; these challenges ultimately deepened learning and reinforced incremental design and collaborative, cost-aware engineering. The internship effectively operationalised Kolbs experiential learning cycle and fostered adaptive expertise relevant to domains such as healthcare analytics and urban informatics. Recommendations include preparatory workshops, partnerships with data providers, and structured reflection. Overall, research-driven internships can bridge academic learning with the technical and professional demands of data-intensive practice.
  Keywords: data science education; undergraduate internships; client-server infrastructure; stock market data; experiential learning; project-based learning.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2026.10077313
   
  
• Blind spots: marketing challenges of an innovative eye care clinic  
  by Jacobus Christiaan De Villiers, Yevheniia Stasiuk, Natalia Hartinger, Sabine Jentjens 
  Abstract: This case study examines how Ocular, a Ukrainian ophthalmology centre, can design a market-driven strategy using segmentation, targeting, and positioning (STP) principles to address the complex decision-making behaviours of patients and caregivers in eye care. It demonstrates that healthcare markets are heterogeneous, with patient groups differing in needs, motivations, and emotional barriers throughout the care journey, from problem recognition to provider selection. The case highlights the marketing challenges of unsought services, where fear and misconceptions delay care-seeking behaviour. By integrating multiple analytical frameworks - the three-stage model of service consumption, empathy mapping, and the 7Ps of services marketing - students learn to identify emotional drivers, reduce resistance, and build effective positioning strategies. Engaging with this case provides practical experience in crafting marketing solutions for sensitive, high-involvement services, where understanding and addressing emotional barriers are critical to influencing patient decision-making and improving service uptake.
  Keywords: service marketing; service consumption; STP; empathy map; health services.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2026.10076680
   
  
• SpiceCo: a strategic journey from local supplier to national player: a case study in strategic growth and market adaptation  
  by Jack Garrahan, Anita Rose 
  Abstract: SpiceCo's transformation from a small Hungarian delicatessen supplier in Newark, New Jersey, to a $38 million national spice distributor serving major brands like Dunkin' and Starbucks exemplifies strategic adaptation in a competitive industry. Founded in 1966 by Andy Barna, the company navigated significant challenges including a tragic workplace accident, changing market dynamics, and the pressures of scaling operations while maintaining quality standards. The case explores how SpiceCo leveraged niche market positioning, strategic partnerships, operational innovation, and customer-centric approaches to achieve sustainable growth. As the company faces acquisition offers and considers its future direction, the case highlights critical decisions about maintaining independence versus pursuing rapid expansion through mergers. This study offers valuable insights into entrepreneurial resilience, strategic decision-making, and the complexities of scaling small businesses in mature industries.
  Keywords: entrepreneurship; strategic growth; spice industry; market adaptation; operational scaling; quality management.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2026.10075863
   
  
• Case study narrative: is business creation different for disabled entrepreneurs?  
  by Julien Billion, Catherine Lejealle, Claire Doussard, David Duchamp 
  Abstract: This case study provides a comprehensive understanding of persons with disabilities (PWD), with a specific focus on entrepreneurs with disabilities (EWD). Emmanuelle Charbit, the Head of H'up Entrepreneurs - a French association dedicated to supporting EWD - faced a pivotal moment in April 2025 as she prepared to onboard new colleagues. Eager to strengthen the support her organisation offers, she sought a deeper understanding of the specificities, challenges, and strategies that characterise the entrepreneurial journeys of EWD. This case study uses effectuation theory as a conceptual lens to examine the practices and reasoning of disabled entrepreneurs, shedding light on how they navigate uncertainty and leverage available means. Through this analysis, it provides Emmanuelle Charbit with valuable insights to train her new team members, improve internal practices, and ultimately foster a more inclusive and responsive support ecosystem for entrepreneurs with disabilities.
  Keywords: entrepreneur; disability; effectuation theory; means; imagination.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2026.10074002
   
  
• The AI pedagogy dilemma: when innovation meets integrity at Kathmandu College  
  by Shwadhin Sharma 
  Abstract: The rapid diffusion of generative artificial intelligence (AI) is challenging universities worldwide to redefine learning, authorship, and academic integrity. This case study examines how Kathmandu College, a mid-sized private institution in Nepal affiliated with Tribhuvan University, confronts these tensions as its Department of Data Science advocates for the formal integration of AI tools such as ChatGPT and Copilot into teaching and assessment. University administrators perceive the same tools as a threat to honesty and credibility. The disagreement exposes a governance vacuum typical of developing-country higher-education systems, where innovation outpaces institutional readiness. Drawing on the technology acceptance model (Davis, 1989), diffusion of innovations (Rogers, 2003), transformational and adaptive leadership (Bass and Riggio, 2006; Heifetz, 1994), and institutional theory (DiMaggio and Powell, 1983), the paper situates the conflict within Nepal's policy and resource constraints. It offers analytical insights into how leadership, ethics, and policy interact when universities attempt to incorporate AI responsibly.
  Keywords: artificial intelligence; academic integrity; pedagogy; higher education; Nepal; digital policy; leadership.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2026.10077105
   
  
• The $50K question: developing entrepreneurial self-efficacy in first-generation students  
  by Kristin Burton 
  Abstract: This teaching case examines how experiential, identity-affirming, and culturally responsive entrepreneurship education can enhance confidence and sense of belonging among first-generation students. The case is grounded by data from a national pre- and post-survey of over 5,000 students enrolled in collegiate entrepreneurship courses from 2017 to 2023. The case centres on Sophia Santos, a first-generation Brazilian business student navigating the development of self-efficacy, identity formation, and feedback dynamics. The case employs a multi-theory approach, integrating experiential learning theory, social cognitive career theory, identity theory and culturally responsive pedagogy, to examine how confidence operates as both outcome and driver of learning. For simplicity, we refer to this theoretical intersection as the confidence multiplier framework. The accompanying teaching note provides adaptable facilitation tools for inclusive instruction. This case offers global relevance for educators seeking evidence-based strategies to foster student agency, belonging, and adaptive confidence through reflective, practice-based learning.
  Keywords: entrepreneurship education; first-generation students; self-efficacy; experiential learning; culturally responsive pedagogy; identity theory; confidence development.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2026.10076679