Research Publications (Academic Support)

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Symmetry properties of autonomous integrating factors
(SIGMA (Symmetry, Integrability and Geometry: Methods and Application), 2005) Moyo, Sibusiso; Leach, P.G.L.
We study the symmetry properties of autonomous integrating factors from an algebraic point of view. The symmetries are delineated for the resulting integrals treated as equations and symmetries of the integrals treated as functions or configurational invariants. The succession of terms (pattern) is noted. The general pattern for the solution symmetries for equations in the simplest form of maximal order is given and the properties of the associated integrals resulting from this analysis are given.
Towards establishing guidelines for performance appraisal of subject librarians in KwaZulu-Natal academic libraries
(2006) Hoskins, Ruth; Leach, Athol; Neerputh, Shirleen
A common theme emerging in the library world today is that quality service in the library and information centre is dependent on the quality performance of personnel. Prior to conducting performance appraisals, managers need to ascertain the core performance criteria for quality service provision. Research was conducted among subject librarians in KwaZulu-Natal academic libraries to ascertain what key performance areas (KPAs), job tasks and competencies were considered important in the work of subject librarians. The purpose of the study was to develop initial guidelines for performance appraisals of this group of librarians. Using the survey method and the self-administered questionnaire, findings indicated that performance appraisal guidelines would need to take cognisance of the following KPAs of subject librarians' work: Instruction and teaching, Reference services, Communication, Management and organisation, Cataloguing and classification and Information technology. The most important competencies identified were Interpersonal skills, followed by Knowledge of the total information environment.
Mergers and managers : what’s needed for both to work?
(2006) Muller, Nicole Jacqueline
Mergers are not an occasion; they are a process, and it is important to understand how such processes unfold and the concomitant stress factors that are brought about by the change. During a merger, staff can feel overstretched and overburdened. A logical output of this is that neglect of normal business operations occurs. There are various management strategies recommended in the literature which can be put into place to ensure that such overload and neglect does not lead to failure of the merger. This paper briefly outlines the various cycles that mergers take, as well as highlighting the stresses that mergers place on employees. It focuses more particularly on what skills and strategies are required by managers to ensure that such employee stress is diminished and that employees feel competent, able and willing to handle the operational requirements of the merger appropriately. The paper draws on experiences of the Durban Institute of Technology library during its merger process.
Integration, information literacy : a librarian, learner, lecturer partnership in foundation (extended curriculum) programmes
(2007) Shah, Anitha; Mathe, Zanele; Naicker, Kogie
The DUT’s Academic Strategic Plan (2005) emphasizes the importance of integrating all activities that contribute to the “total student learning experience”. It particularly mentions that the Library should not be seen as merely supporting teaching and learning, but rather as involved in teaching, learning and research. The DUT Library acknowledges its pivotal role in the teaching and learning process and endeavours to integrate IL into the academic programmes, veering away from its traditional, supportive role. To this effect the Library has developed a framework for Information Literacy and designed an IL course using Outcomes Based Education principles. The IL course was integrated into the curriculum of 16 extended curriculum programmes offered at DUT in 2007. The process of integration included the Library’s participation from the planning stages of the ECP through to the level of teaching, assessing and evaluating.
Integrating quality and cost of surface raw water : upper and middle Vaal water management areas South Africa
(IWA Publishing, 2010) Dzwairo, Bloodless; Otieno, Fredrick Alfred O.
The user-pays principle encourages use of a water tariff structure that incorporates pollution and/or depletion of a water resource because that water represents a capital resource base. Development of a tool that models variability of surface raw water quality in order to predict cost of treatment thus makes economic sense. This paper forms the backbone for an on-going doctoral study in South Africa's Upper and Middle Vaal Water Management Areas (U&MVWMAs) of the Vaal River (VR). Specific objectives of the overall research are; to carry out pollutant tracer hydrochemistry of specific reaches of the U&MVWMAs including producing an integrated ecological functionality for the whole study area, and to develop a tool that models the variability of surface raw water quality using surface raw water tariffs and water quality data for years 2003–2008. This paper concluded that downstream water boards (WBs) paid a higher water resources management charge (WRMC) for more polluted raw water than upstream WBs. It was recommended that a quality-cost model be incorporated at tier1 of the cost chain for water services to ensure fairness of service delivery and spread of burden to consumers.
Making a case for systems thinking approach to integrated water resources management (IWRM)
(Academic Journals, 2010-04-22) Dzwairo, Bloodless; Otieno, Fredrick Alfred O.; Ochieng, George M.
While definite benefits could be gained from integrating the management of natural and human systems, taking into account the effects of human activities on the environment, the task of operationalising and implementing this approach in practice represents an enormous challenge. Some limitations highlighted include the definition of integrated water resources management (IWRM) itself, where it appears to be broad, all-encompassing and impressive but contains ‘‘lofty phrases’’ that have little practical importance for either present or future water management practices. This paper makes recommendations to uptake and incorporate the systems thinking approach (STA) in IWRM decision making processes, an approach envisaged to be more participatory and also process-oriented. Incorporation of socio-economic dynamics is also recommended, with a suggestion that the biophysical relationships like interactions in a basin between water, the human population and settlements should be analysed to the extent possible.
Sand water storage : unconventional methods to freshwater augmentation in isolated rural communities of South Africa
(Academic Journals, 2010-10-20) Otieno, Fredrick Alfred O.; Olufayo, O. A.; Ochieng, George M.
South Africa water resources are scarce in global terms with mean annual rainfall of about half world average of 860 mm a year. On the other hand, current economy development with resulting contamination of available water resources will further reduce water availability, if present patterns of water use continue unchanged. The conventional water resources (largely surface water) in the country have been fully exploited with little opportunity for further expansion. So therefore, new approaches are necessary by accessing alluvial aquifers of non-perennial rivers in forming additional water resources in this part of semi-arid region. High evaporative losses from surface storage, increasing costs of large dams and aridity conditions have hindered development of conventional water resources with increasing interest in using groundwater for rural water supply. Many South Africa rivers are non-perennial, therefore, development of unconventional sand water storage is appealing for freshwater augmentation in isolated rural communities. This paper presents overviews of South Africa water resources highlighting sand water storage options for potential application in rural water supply for isolated communities where groundwater potential is low.
A process-based model for fluidized bed in sand filled reservoirs
(ASCE: American Society of Civil Engineers, 2011) Olufayo, O. A.; Ochieng, George M.; Ndambuki, Julius M.; Otieno, Fredrick Alfred O.
Arid and semi-arid regions are prone to severe water inadequacies. They are characterized by little rainfall resulting in several seasonal rivers. Seasonal riverbeds provide opportunity for water to be stored in river’s sand-beds while their surfaces may appear dry. It is an important source of water in most rural areas under arid conditions. Several numerical models have been developed for solving sediment problems in alluvial rivers. However, rarely if ever were a model applied for sand filled reservoirs. This study presents a model to understand interacting factors through which physical water storage potential can be increased in sand filled reservoirs. Finite different method (FDM) has been applied to numerically solve mass balance continuity equation in sand filled reservoir. There were reasonable agreements between estimated results and experimental measurements from a laboratory setup. The study could provide economic and suitability data for increasing water supplies to a small community.
One-dimensional finite difference approach for sedimentation process in sand filled reservoirs
(Academic Journals, 2011-04-04) Olufayo, O. A.; Ochieng, George M.; Ndambuki, Julius M.; Otieno, Fredrick Alfred O.
There have been continuing efforts to decrease silt deposits due to interstitial blockage in sand-filled reservoirs. However, estimating weir height to allow for deposition of required grain sizes is difficult. This paper presents a numerical process-imitating model aimed at improving water storage potential in sand filled reservoirs. The technique uses a finite difference (FD) numerical model to numerically solve mass balance continuity equation built upon the conservative laws of solid-fluid mixture hydrodynamics. Present investigation shows that barrier height used in sand-filled reservoirs determines the grade quality of deposited sands. The predictions of the model compared with laboratory measurements show agreement between computational and experimental results. The study could provide economic and suitability data for increasing water supplies to a small community through determination of appropriate weir height that will increase subsurface water storage potential.
Towards a more sustainable surface raw water tariff structure in the Vaal basin : a situational analysis
(Academic Journals, 2011-04-18) Dzwairo, Bloodless; Otieno, Fredrick Alfred O.; Ochieng, George M.
With an increasingly urbanised population, further study was necessary to determine if water could be used more efficiently by applying efficient tariff structures in combination with decision support tools in the form of models. This paper highlighted challenges towards establishing a sustainable surface raw water tariff structure. Limitations of using the pollute-pays principle for setting a surface raw water tariff structure within a highly urbanised environment were noted. A tariff structure in the Upper and Middle Vaal Water management Areas which are part of the Vaal basin in South Africa was shown to promote inequity such that a downstream user paid more for using more polluted water. Recommendations specific to the Vaal basin included adopting a user-pays principle and also use of a model that incorporated variability in surface raw water quality for tariff setting and also for purposes of predicting potable water treatment costs.
Treating high nitrate groundwater using surfactant modified zeolite in fixed bed column
(Taylor and Francis, 2011-05-02) Masukume, Mike; Eskandarpour, Akbar; Onyango, Maurice S.; Ochieng, Aoyi; Otieno, Fredrick Alfred O.
High levels of nitrate in South African groundwater used for drinking purposes are a cause of concern due to the possible human health risks associated with consuming nitrate contaminated water. In this study, nitrate removal using surfactant modified zeolite (SMZ) in fixed bed column is explored. The performance of SMZ is studied as a function of bed height, initial concentration, flow rate, and bed diameter. The number of bed volumes processed and capacity of the bed at breakthrough point are used as performance indicators. The bed performance improves with a decrease in bed height while column diameter has no influence on bed performance. Within the studied flow rate range, the highest number of bed volumes processed and bed capacity are observed at a flow rate of 5 mL/min. In an adsorption-desorption process, the performance of SMZ is found to be poor in the subsequent cycle suggesting that the media is suited for single-use only.
Managerialism or Collegialism? The evolution of these approaches and perceptions thereof in Higher Education in South Africa.
(OER Africa, 2012) Chetty, Gopalkrishna; Louw, T.
South African higher education institutions have not been immune from worldwide developments which include changes in the geo-political order, globalization of society, the technology revolution and the loss of monopoly of higher education institutions in creating and disseminating knowledge. The latter in particular has led to significantly diminished public resources for higher education. The corporatization of higher education in South Africa has been a response to these pressures. Equally restructuring of the sector by the State has contributed to a shift towards a managerial approach to the governance and management of higher education institutions. This paper examines the changed environment within which universities have to function with a view to establishing whether collegialism and managerialism can coexist successfully in a changing higher education landscape.
The Development of a Language Learning Object Repository (LLOR) for second language teachers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
(International Association of Technology, Education and Development, 2012) Reddy, Pregalathan
A Language Learning Object Repository (LLOR) was developed in an attempt to respond to the challenge of increasing costs of printed educational resources, the lack of which results in generally poor performances by second language English school goers. The overall research approach adopted was critical realism, using Archer’s morphogenetic action research cycle. The resulting LLOR is then a type of mechanism for generating and archiving educational resources, and is intended primarily for teachers although it supports students as well. The use of a user-contributed model in the design of the LLOR anticipates the challenge of providing direct support (editorial), as with new resources having to be added by the researcher only, by having users contribute resources as well; moreover consumers more easily accept user-contributed models when they are also contributors. The iterative design of the LLOR followed a series of piloting of different application stacks including MediaWiki, TikiWiki CMS and Joomla. Moodle was chosen as the most suitable product as it facilitates the sharing of content using Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) and can also easily be packaged in an offline self-contained pack for distribution to users who have limited Internet access. Three user groups comprising experts (those proficient with web and computer technologies), teachers (a representative group of second language teachers of English) and students (a mix of second and first language English learners) were asked to test-drive the LLOR and respond to questions asked about its ease of use and potential. Modifications were made based on their input. The key to facilitating access and usage of resources like this LLOR is to make it accessible through different devices, especially mobile devices (e.g. mobile phones, tablets and netbooks); future development will prioritise a mobile-ready version of the LLOR.
Product tactics in a complex and turbulent environment viewed through a complexity lens
(The Business Review, Cambridge, 2012) Mason, Roger Bruce
This paper is based on the proposition that the choice of different product tactics is influenced by the nature of the firm’s external environment. It illustrates the type of product activities suggested for a complex and turbulent environment, when viewing the environment through a chaos and complexity theory lens. A qualitative, case method, using depth interviews,investigated the product activities in two companies to identify the product activities adopted in a more successful, versus a less successful, firm in a complex/turbulent environment. The results showed that the more successful company uses some destabilizing product activities but also partially uses stabilizing product activities. These findings are of benefit to marketers as they emphasize a new way to consider future product activities in their firms. Since businesses and markets are complex adaptive systems, using complexity theory to understand how to cope in complex, turbulent environments is necessary, but has not been widely researched, with even less emphasis on individual components of the marketing mix.
Learning from the first year of the Transformative Education/al Studies (TES) project
(2012) Harrison, Liz; Pithouse-Morgan, Kathleen; Conolly, Joan Lucy; Meyiwa, Thenjiwe
The Transformative Education/al Studies project (TES) is a three-year, funded project led by researchers from three universities: a University of Technology, a Research-Intensive university, and a rural Comprehensive University. The project participants are academic staff members who are pursuing Masters and Doctoral studies and their supervisors. These participants, all engaged in self-study of their practice in Higher Education, form an inter-institutional, trans-disciplinary learning community. TES aims to enhance and study the development of self-reflexive pedagogic, research and supervision capacity among these participants. In this article, we make public our learning thus far about supporting an emerging postgraduate research learning community involving academic staff working and studying in three very different university contexts. The data sources comprise digital logbooks kept by participants, workshop evaluations, and the researchers‟ personal reflections and communications. Our analysis contributes to a body of academic work that explores how collaborative and social approaches to scholarship can enhance research capacity, productivity and quality in Higher Education. The conceptual underpinning of the article is that of reflexive ubuntu, which demands a consciousness of our developing „selves‟ as researchers and supervisors and of our interrelationships with other people.
Crossing from violence to nonviolence : pedagogy and memory
(UKZN, 2012) Hemson, Crispin
This qualitative case study addresses the use of memories of violence in a workshop with ten young student leaders in Durban. The pedagogy included the use of guidelines and gender-based groups as ways of enabling safety. A particularly direct discussion of gender and its relationship to violence followed, though violence in relation to other social identities was also explored. Walkerdine’s work (2006) on border crossing is used to analyse the data from the records of discussion and evaluation comments. The argument is that such a pedagogy enabled participants to address some of the sedimented connections that held them to relationships based on violence. Generally, if we understand violence as caught up in social identities, work on memories of violence will require attention to dynamics related to the identities present. While gender’s relation to violence is central in this context, further cases in which the pedagogy is structured around other social identities would extend our understanding.
South African higher education : at the center of a cauldron of national imaginations
(Social Research, 2012) Bawa, Ahmed C.
South Africa's university system is by far the most developed on the African continent. 18 years after the fall of apartheid we must ask whether there is anything approaching a national consensus about the place of university in development. This is still an open question. The legacies of apartheid continue to shape debates about how to think of the place of higher education in this society that is at once an exciting new experiment in democracy and the most unequal society in the world. South Africa's flirtations with the knowledge economy have implications for the way in which we think about its universities. Its status as being 12rd in the world in terms of the Human Development Index has other implications for this. In this paper we examine the tensions that undergird the higher education policy debates - the most often reflect conflictual imaginations of the ‘new’ South Africa.
Preface to the special issue on the tercentenary of the Laplace–Runge–Lenz vector
(Springer, 2012-10-30) Maharaj, S. D.; Moyo, Sibusiso; Popovych, R.
The impact of pricing of raw water on cost of treatment and ultimately on the cost of potable water
(2012-11-19) Otieno, Fredrick Alfred O.; Dzwairo, Bloodless
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) sells raw water to water boards, generally at a fixed price determined annually. The cost of this water does generally not take into account the quality that the water boards receive. Water boards are then expected to treat this water to a certain specified standard for distribution to local authorities which then supply consumers. Consumers are charged based on the volume they consume, presumably a charge that would recover the cost of treatment and other associated overheads, which are agreed upon in advance. The result of this could be one of two things, namely that the consumers in different parts of the country pay different rates or that the water boards may be operating at a loss. Based on recent and ongoing research in the Vaal River system, this paper looks at the implications of this on the final cost of treatment and ultimately on the cost to consumers and suggests ways in which raw water could be priced to ensure fairness and spread of burden to the consumers based on quality requirements.
Water demand management and losses in Garankuwa and Mabopane, South Africa
(2012-11-19) Mhlongo, Ntombie Thandazile; Otieno, Fredrick Alfred O.; Ochieng, George M.
This study attempted to address possible solutions to water demand management for the improvement of efficient use of a given volume of water while increasing water access to new users; application of water demand management tools both at the utility and end-user sides; and managing water losses in the distribution network which is a critical aspect of water demand management. The research was conducted in Garankuwa and Mabopane supplied by ODI Water Services in South Africa. This paper describes water resources in South Africa, water demand management tools in place and water supply to the ODI Water Services. It further presents data for the total purchases of water from Rand water and the final billed water at the utility, and water consumption patterns during the period of July to December 2009. This included attempts made to identify and quantify water losses in Garankuwa and Mabopane during the same period. Suggestions were made on how water losses can be reduced. In Garankuwa and Mabopane it was discovered that human perceptions on water demand management and water wastage through unaccounted-for-water together with the indigenous knowledge systems for the management of natural resources need to be altered as the country is water stressed.