The United Arab Emirates has witnessed an exodus of long-term non-resident Indians, especially Malayalees, due to unforeseen impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The Emirates' consequent economic setbacks, including a fear of the virus and falling job and financial security, threatened the survival of Indiansthe largest expatriate demographic in the world and the Emirates. While apprehensive about their homeland's ability to accommodate a mass reverse migrant population, the reverse migrants still retained attributes and values they associated with migration to the Emirates. Since the UAE hosts the largest number of Keralites in the world, the sample for this study comprises the first batch of Gulf-Malayalees, who had registered to return to Kerala. Through a means-end approach, this study reviews respondents' attributes, consequences, and values at the time of migration and compares it with their perceptions during the sudden Covid-19 related reverse migration from the United Arab Emirates.

Purpose Many researchers have addressed students as consumers and considered their online searches to choose a university as typical buying behaviour. The myriad features of digital information enable universities to conveniently and quickly reach educational markets at a relatively low cost. Consumers’ market choices can usefully be interpreted in terms of their cultural perceptions. To encourage Web viewers to make repeat visits to, and remain longer on, their websites, it is critical for international universities to understand local and regional viewers’ perceptions and preferences regarding non-text Web messages through the lens of culture. The purpose of the current study is to address the need for, and the challenge presented by, glocalising the text and non-text aspects of university websites by investigating Arab consumers’ perceptions of these websites. Design/methodology/approach The sampling frame comprised 200 residents from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, including 100 high school students and 100 stakeholders, with equal proportions of Arabs and non-Arabs. Illustrations and images were used in the questionnaire to collect respondents’ perceptions about university websites from a cultural perspective. Findings This study identifies a need to glocalise the non-text and website messages of international universities that are aiming to penetrate educational markets in the Emirates. Research limitations/implications This study clearly identifies the segment that is most receptive to a “glocalised” website communication strategy of international universities: Arab students, aged 16 or above, and educated stakeholders, expect to view academic information on websites, as do viewers everywhere, but prefer this information to reflect the values and traditions of Arab culture. Originality/value The increasing inflow of students from the Gulf region to the United Arab Emirates, instead of their usual choice of European or Western educational destinations, has motivated international universities to envisage the Emirates as a location for their campus expansions. An understanding of the approaches of Arab viewers to the websites of international universities through the lens of culture is essential for bridging the literature gaps that currently persist in the area of digital promotion and social marketing.

PurposeSince 2018, the two floods and droughts that struck Kerala's economy have threatened the state's sustainable earthen vessel production. Current studies allocate focus to the pottery industry's techno-social impacts and ethnography of the potter community; hence, there is a gap in understanding consumers, who are responsible for environmentally conscious behaviors, and their switch from earthen vessels to other materials adaptable to modern kitchens. This study aims to bridge gaps in understanding the reasons behind their demand shift and the challenges of earthenware consumption and production after the disasters.Design/methodology/approachThis quantitative research explored the perceptions of pottery producers and consumers in Kerala. The sample for the primary survey comprised 590 randomly selected consumers and one master artisan from each of Kerala's total of 44 registered pottery communities. Unpublished records provided the secondary data on production and sales.FindingsAn upward shift in the demand for earthen vessels after natural calamities is observed. Quality, availability and adaptability are consumer concerns. The Markov chain analysis predicts that future consumption of earthen vessels depends on improved marketing mix strategies. After natural disasters, persistent demand exists for earthen vessels, but sustainable production is challenged due to the deteriorating quality and shortage of clay along with the consequent increase in procurement costs of raw materials.Originality/valueAs the earthen vessel industry was affected by disasters very recently, this study contributes an immediate exploration of its sustainable production and consumption challenges.