Purpose: This study aims to critically examine the interaction between organizational resilience and agility in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from emerging economies. Through a systematic literature review, it identifies conceptual overlaps, tensions and strategic trade-offs between these dynamic capabilities. The research fills a gap in the literature by proposing an integrative framework that contextualizes these capabilities within environments of structural fragility, limited resources and digital transformation, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of how SMEs navigate disruption and pursue sustainable competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach: The study employs a systematic literature review (SLR) based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 protocol, analyzing 121 peer-reviewed sources published between 1995 and 2025. The review applies thematic coding (open, axial and selective) to identify five strategic axes – adaptive leadership, continuous innovation, organizational learning, collaborative networks and digital transformation. The methodology emphasizes interpretative rigor, contextual reflexivity and conceptual synthesis, aiming to reconcile fragmented theoretical approaches and generate an integrated framework applicable to SMEs in emerging economies. Findings: The review identifies that resilience and agility in SMEs can be both complementary and contradictory, depending on contextual variables like digital maturity, leadership models and resource constraints. While both capabilities are essential for survival and innovation, their coexistence may generate structural tensions. Five thematic axes emerge as critical enablers: leadership, innovation, learning, collaboration and digital technologies. The study also reveals gaps in conceptual clarity and calls for a paradox-informed approach, suggesting that hyper-agility or rigid resilience may create vulnerabilities in fragile environments. Research limitations/implications: The study is limited to English-language and peer-reviewed sources, which may exclude regional or informal knowledge from emerging markets. It also omits gray literature and may reflect a Western-centric bias due to its reliance on indexed journals. Subjectivity in thematic coding could influence interpretation. These limitations constrain the generalizability of the findings and highlight the need for more culturally grounded, participatory and multilingual research methodologies that reflect the lived experiences and alternative resilience strategies of SMEs in diverse global contexts. Practical implications: Entrepreneurs and policymakers in emerging economies can leverage the findings to design context-sensitive strategies that balance agility and resilience. The proposed framework offers tools to identify when to prioritize adaptability or continuity, depending on firm size, sector and digital capabilities. SMEs should invest in adaptive leadership, digital transformation and collaborative networks to enhance survival and competitiveness. Policymakers are encouraged to foster innovation ecosystems, reduce institutional fragility and support inclusive digitalization to build resilient business environments. Social implications: The study underscores the human and ethical dimensions of resilience and agility, including the potential for burnout, inequity and technological dependency in SMEs. It advocates for inclusive leadership, emotional resilience and purpose-driven cultures as foundations for long-term sustainability. Digital transformation should be approached critically, ensuring it empowers rather than imposes on organizations. By highlighting the socio-economic realities of SMEs in emerging markets, the study contributes to discussions on digital sovereignty, well-being and equitable development. Originality/value: This paper challenges the prevailing assumption that resilience and agility are inherently synergistic. By adopting a paradox-informed and context-sensitive perspective, it offers an original framework that maps the tensions and complementarities between these capabilities in SMEs from emerging economies. The research integrates dynamic capabilities theory with empirical insights, contributing to a more critical and nuanced understanding of organizational adaptation. Its value lies in advancing theory, informing policy and offering practical guidance for SME development in fragile and volatile environments.

El uso efectivo de laboratorios universitarios representa una herramienta clave en la educación superior para fortalecer las competencias profesionales de los estudiantes. Este estudio explora el impacto de estos espacios en el desarrollo de habilidades prácticas, pensamiento crítico y resolución de problemas, esenciales para responder a las demandas del mercado laboral actual. A través de una revisión sistemática de literatura y un análisis comparativo de experiencias en diferentes contextos globales, se identifican los beneficios, desafíos y oportunidades asociados con la implementación de laboratorios en disciplinas como las ingenierías, ciencias de la salud y ciencias naturales. Los hallazgos destacan la necesidad de políticas institucionales que prioricen inversiones en infraestructura, capacitación docente y el uso de tecnologías emergentes, como simuladores y laboratorios virtuales, para garantizar experiencias de aprendizaje equitativas y de alta calidad. Este estudio ofrece recomendaciones prácticas para mejorar el acceso y la efectividad de los laboratorios en la formación profesional de los estudiantes universitarios.

This research examines the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in urban solid waste management, focusing on innovative solutions that optimize processes and promote environmental sustainability. Through a systematic literature review, recent studies employing machine learning techniques, neural networks, and IoT sensors to transform traditional waste management systems are analyzed. The review covers research published between 2018 and 2025, selected from reputable databases such as Web of Science and Scopus, following PRISMA protocol guidelines to ensure the quality and relevance of the included works. The analysis highlights various areas of AI application, including waste collection route optimization, landfill site selection, supply chain improvement, and automated waste classification. These applications not only reduce operational costs and pollutant emissions but also foster the circular economy through more efficient recycling and material reuse. Additionally, real-time data integration facilitates strategic decision-making for infrastructure planning and resource allocation in complex urban environments. The study synthesizes current technological advances while identifying limitations such as dependence on data quality and availability and the need to expand access to diverse information sources. In conclusion, the incorporation of AI in solid waste management represents a transformative tool that can drive the development of smarter, more resilient, and sustainable cities.

En la educación superior, la pedagogía indagativa se posiciona como un enfoque innovador con el potencial de transformar radicalmente los paradigmas tradicionales de aprendizaje y enseñanza. El objetivo de este estudio es examinar la pedagogía indagativa en programas académicos de educación superior, adoptando una metodología cualitativa y realizando una revisión bibliográfica en bases de datos académicas prominentes, como Scopus. El análisis cualitativo de contenido derivado de esta revisión ha permitido identificar patrones y tendencias que resaltan los desafíos y complejidades asociadas a la adopción de este enfoque pedagógico. A pesar de que el mismo promueve el desarrollo de habilidades fundamentales para el siglo XXI, tales como el pensamiento crítico y la metacognición, se encuentra con obstáculos significativos como la rigidez de los currículos y la limitación de recursos. Por tanto, la superación de estas dificultades exige una estrategia de innovación y una adaptación de los métodos de evaluación para capturar con precisión los logros obtenidos a través de procesos de indagación. En ese contexto, si bien la pedagogía indagativa ofrece una oportunidad para revitalizar la educación superior, es esencial abordar eficazmente las resistencias y los desafíos estructurales con esfuerzos mancomunados y un firme compromiso por parte de las instituciones educativas.

La gestión de residuos sólidos en el entorno doméstico es un desafío crucial debido a su impacto en la salud pública y el medio ambiente. Este estudio presenta una revisión sistemática de la literatura sobre las prácticas actuales de manejo de residuos en los hogares, identificando beneficios y barreras para su implementación. A nivel mundial, la gestión inadecuada de residuos ha contribuido a problemas de contaminación, afectando la calidad del aire, agua y suelo, y aumentando los riesgos de enfermedades. Los factores socioeconómicos y culturales, junto con la disponibilidad de infraestructura adecuada, limitan la efectividad de las prácticas sostenibles en los hogares. Se analizaron siete estudios representativos, que abarcan desde prácticas como la separación y reciclaje hasta la adopción de tecnologías innovadoras y políticas públicas. Los resultados muestran que la conciencia ambiental, la confianza social y las políticas educativas son fundamentales para fomentar cambios positivos. Además, se subraya la necesidad de adoptar modelos de economía circular y estrategias personalizadas según los contextos locales. Las recomendaciones incluyen el fortalecimiento de la educación ambiental, la mejora de la infraestructura y la integración de tecnologías emergentes como blockchain en sistemas de gestión de residuos. Este trabajo proporciona una base para diseñar políticas más efectivas y sostenibles en el manejo de residuos domésticos.

This multivariate study analyzes educational attendance patterns in Ecuador, using data from the 2022 Population and Housing Census. The main purpose is to identify the age group with the highest incidence of educational exclusion, in order to guide targeted interventions. The research is classified as descriptive and exploratory, with a quantitative approach. The universe is composed of the population surveyed at the national level, and the unit of analysis corresponds to five-year age groups. The variables used were the total number of attendees, non-attendees, and total population, disaggregated by sex. The analysis integrates techniques such as graphical representation using principal components, hierarchization by Pareto analysis, and segmentation by hierarchical clusters, represented in heat maps. These tools made it possible to identify patterns of dependency and similarity between age groups, as well as to establish priorities for intervention. Among the main results, it is noteworthy that the 30-49 age groups account for more than 50% of the population that does not attend educational institutions, suggesting a structural lag. The segmentation confirms the existence of different profiles between age groups. It is concluded that the proposed approach facilitates the identification of priority cohorts, providing useful evidence for the formulation of educational policies aimed at reintegrating adults into the education system.