Research Publications (Management Sciences)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/217

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Challenges for quality primary education in Papua, New Guinea : a case study
(Hindawi Limited, 2011) Rena, Ravinder
There is an urgent need to reform the educational system to achieve universal primary education in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Even after 35 years of independence, PNG has been struggling to educate an estimated 2 million elementary- and primary-aged children and faces numerous challenges in providing Education for All (EFA). This study was conducted in four primary schools of Buma Yong area of Lae district of Morobe Province, PNG. The study revealed that the quality of education has been deteriorated over the past few decades. Many schools in PNG do not have classrooms, teachers, and basic facilities. As a result, the children are losing interest in going to school. The children dropped out of school so as to assist their families in the household and agricultural activities. It also reveals that the dropout rate of girls is more than that of the boys due to the gender disparity in the country. The study recommended that budgetary allocations should be increased so as to improve the infrastructural facilities and encourage the children to attend primary school and thus achieve the Millennium Development Goal/Education For All in PNG.
Curbing social impediments for educational innovations in the context of higher institute of learning
(Primrose Hall Publishing Group, 2022-07-01) Mthalane, Peggy Pinky
Social impediments are the greatest threats to higher institutions of learning in developing countries. The influence of social ills is felt as attendance in learning institutions continue to dwindle and result to growing students drop-out rates. Curbing and incorporating social impediments in the higher education system can enhance innovative collaborative skills to solve global problems thus providing adequate opportunities for students to experience real-life learning experiences in different fields of the job market. For the purpose of this study, the scoping review aided by qualitative approach were used to plot extant evidence for insights into social impediments in the context of higher institutions of higher learning. Primary data based on interviews was extracted through thematic technique supported by quotations and narrative summaries from forty-five (45) participants. The final outcomes show increasing interest by learning institutions to try and curtail social impediments. In addition, it was revealed that curbing social ills, more educational institutions should include social issues as part of their core curricula to shape students’ future for specialized innovative skills.
The entrepreneurial mind-set of university students : a cross-cultural comparison between Namibia and Germany
(Inderscience Publishers, 2011) Haase, Heiko; Lautenschlager, Arndt; Rena, Ravinder
The objective of this article is to set a cornerstone to compare and understand the phenomenon of graduate entrepreneurship in developing and developed countries. Our central research questions are: Are there differences in the entrepreneurial intentions of university students? What are the factors that might explain potential differences in their entrepreneurial mind-set? In response to these questions, we performed a cross-sectional study exploring the prospective career paths of 2,353 university students from Namibia as well as from Eastern and Western Germany. We found that Namibian students have a higher entrepreneurial intention compared to their German counterparts. We detected several differences between both countries and revealed explanatory factors. However, they are not sufficient to explain the ‘regional dimension’ of the higher entrepreneurial intentions in Namibia. Several implications are presented.
Roots and causes of occupational stress amongst female academics in Universities of Technology in South Africa
(Sciedu Press, 2022) Mathews, Mercillene; Khumalo, Njabulo; Dlamini, Bongani Innocent
tress and stress-related problems have negative human resource and financial implications for Universities of Technology (UoT) in terms of absenteeism, productivity, organizational effectiveness, employee morale and medical aid subsidies. For tertiary institutions, the impact of stressed academics on core business activities relating to students and examinations are far-reaching. The paper assessed the roots and causes of occupational stress amongst female academics in a UoT in South Africa. The paper adopted a qualitative research approach with a focus group of selected female academics in the UoT. The paper revealed that workload and performance management, as well as family life and personal life; teaching vs research and administration; Covid-19 and online teaching and learning; holidays and leave and lack of leave; meetings and support deficiency; resources and lack of care and empathy, as well as poor HR, bullying and imposition and a lack of professionalism; nepotism and favouritism; retrenchments and instability, along with poor recognition and appreciation, were the roots that contribute to occupational stress in the UoT in SA. The paper recommends that effective interventions be implemented by the UoT in order to manage the stress of these female academics, thereby reducing the negative impact thereof on themselves and the institution. University policy-makers should devise a variety of solutions in a well-balanced package that places responsibility on both the university and staff to manage occupational stress.