Research Publications (Academic Support)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/211

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The advocacy-growth nexus: the case of the Egyptian banking sector
(Emerald Insight, 2014) Abdel-Baki, Monal A.
Purpose – The Egyptian banking sector has acted as an arena for multiple alliances, some of which bred crony capitalism and others acted as growth alliances. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of private sector advocacy in the Egyptian banking sector on macroeconomic performance, with the prime aim of designing an Egyptian-centric roadmap outlining precepts of good advocacy between bankers, policymakers and businesses. Design/methodology/approach – The study uses a two-stage model. In the first stage an advocacy construct is developed using confirmatory factor analysis. In the second stage the relationship between advocacy and macroeconomic growth is measured by running a set of parsimonious regressions. Findings – The empirical results show a strong relationship between advocacy and growth, albeit not on inflation rates, suggesting that an innovative set of public policy instruments is needed to promote private advocacy efforts and to institutionalise private-public partnerships. This is an innately pressing mission for the new government to mitigate the impact of the double-digit inflation that has prevailed since the Triple-F – food, fuel and finance – Crisis of 2006. Practical implications – The ousted Egyptian government failed to protect its citizens from crony alliances and corruption, be it abuse of public resources or unfair access to bank credit. Hence, the prime aim is to design a future roadmap for the endorsement of effective growth alliances between businesses, bankers and policymakers. The recommendations proposed by this study would prove helpful to future public policymakers in the fulfilment of the macroeconomic aspirations of the Egyptian society as well as to other emerging and developing nations that share similar problems. Social implications – The research addresses how reforms can be designed in an egalitarian fashion to direct credit to growth enhancing and job-generating sectors since a prompt treatment of these problems at their roots is apt to minimise the probabilities of future social turmoil. This is apt to assist the Egyptian people to transition to a truly democratic society and to convert street rebellions into inclusive institutional activism. Originality/value – This paper adds to the literature a measurable construct gauging the relationship between advocacy in the banking sector and growth. Another contribution is the set of policies proposed to institutionalise rightful advocacy efforts.
Characteristics and policies of community-based tourism in the case of Jamaica
(2015-01) Giampiccoli, Andrea; Jugmohan, Sean; Mtapuri, Oliver
The aim of the article is to investigate the relationship between relevant Community-based Tourism (CBT) characteristics and the Jamaican Community Tourism Policy and Strategy (CTPS) and to discuss its value in community development. This article makes a contribution towards the understanding of the role of government in the development CBT. It argues that while the Jamaican CTPS has many positive strategies, they seem to be skewed in favor of the well established and market ready Community Tourism Enterprises (CTEs). It argues that such a state of affairs risks increasing the inequality gap between the rich CTEs and the poor ones and the members involved. By inference, it also risks developing ‘elite’ CTEs. As such, the article also argues that support should be given to all CTEs in the various tiers depending solely on need. The article also posits that it is critically important to develop community tourism partnerships with government ministries and other agencies, the private sector and NGOs for the establishment of standards, assessments, branding, marketing, financing and legal issues and capacity building. The article argues that the forms and modes of capacity building and empowerment which it advocates should make communities independent in the interest of social justice. While Jamaica’s CTPS has numerous feasible strategies, it is their prioritization which is highly contestable.
Community-based tourism in rich and poor countries : towards a framework for comparison
(African Journals Online, 2015-12) Giampiccoli, Andrea; Jugmohan, Sean; Mtapuri, Oliver
This article is conceptual based on a perusal of academic journal articles and books on matters related to Community-based Tourism (CBT). It contends that CBT is a very important tool for local economic development, community development, empowerment and the attainment of social justice. It observes disparities between rich and poor countries in terms of endowments and how the multiple dimensions of poverty can confound how tourism can be experienced in different contexts. It posits an eight Es model which represents the fundamental pillars upon which to judge a CBT for purposes of support, monitoring and evaluation. The eight E are Endogenous (emphasising a reliance on local resources); Environment – (reflecting the importance of caring for the environment, and broader environmental conditions and infrastructure); Education – (to advance skills and education); Empowerment – (which embraces economic, psychological, social and political empowerment); Equity – (for equitable distribution and re-distribution of both benefits and resources); Evolving – (always improving and changing to take advantage of dynamic opportunities); Enduring – (for long term sustainability) and supporting Entrepreneurship – (for innovation, creativity and viability). The framework/model is also significant as it provides a common ground upon which the understanding of CBT could be carried at international and national level. The model can be customised to take into account local conditions; it is flexible and all-encompassing with potential to be used for rating facilities.
Complex journeys and methodological responses to engaging in self-study in a rural comprehensive university
(University of the Free State, 2014) Meyiwa, Thenjiwe; Chisanga, T.; Mokhele, Paul; Sotshangane, Nkonsinathi; Makhanya, Sizakele
The context in which self-study research is conducted is sometimes complex, affecting the manner in which related data is gathered and interpreted. This article comprises collaboration between three students and two supervisors. It shares methodological choices made by graduate students and supervisors of a rural university at which, self-study research was introduced in 2010. As individuals, and as a collective, we reflect on the reasons and decisions for adopting certain research approaches towards self-study: the ways in which such decisions are negotiated in conceptualising, conducting, transcribing, and supervising graduate research. While self-reflexive data-collection approaches (mainly journal writing and storytelling) guide our research, the manner in which data is analysed and presented to the wider university community is influenced by expectations and by the context of the university. We, therefore, use innovative approaches differing from self-study research, speaking more to the challenges and expectations of a rural context. We further reflect on the implications such choices have for our research and the work produced – where knowledge shifts are executed, methodologies are re-defined and social change is desired.
Corporate social responsibility in the mining sector in Zimbabwe.
(La Nuova Italia Editrice, 2023-01-31) Musariwa, Priscilla; Rampersad, Renitha; Govender, Nereshnee
Zimbabwe like any other developing country, invests funds in supporting the upliftment of communities and in social programmes that enhances community development. The increasing rate of unemployment and low skills level poses a threat to sustainable development. To support a strategic shift towards impactful results, organisations with the help of the government need constructive and efficient Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy, which is simple and user friendly. This can assist project managers and company managers to improve effectiveness and efficiency of CSR programmes. Using a qualitative approach, this study examined the nature of CSR in the mining sector in Zimbabwe to understand the challenges that are faced by mining companies. This paper can be used to design a CSR policy that lead to the planning and implementation of programmes in the mining sector that yield impactful results. Using purposive sampling, four CSR managers were selected from two Zimbabwean mining companies (Zimplats and Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond mining Company). Data was collected through semi structured interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings indicate that mining companies in Zimbabwe are involved in CSR initiatives, but they are faced with a number of challenges including lack of participation from the communities and limited financial resources.
Developing and improving human capital and productivity in public companies
(Virtus Interpress, 2016) Sithole, Nozipho; Ngibe, Musawenkosi
This article assesses the impact of the Assisted Education Programmed (AEP) in developing and improving human capital and productivity specifically for eThekwini Municipality employee human resource. This program offers funding to employees to further their studies in higher learning institutions, which are in partnership with and recognized by eThekwini Municipality. The core function of this program is to improve and develop employee capabilities in order to enhance municipal productivity. However, different factors have prohibited the program from reaching required funding polity objectives. Participants filled in questionnaires and from them data were collected. The study used quantitative research as a method of research. The target population for this study consisted of 100 participants. The study sample size were 64 participants which were randomly selected out of the Durban and Solid Waste Unit, specifically general assistants. The study analyzed data using SPSS (version 23.0). A significant percentage of respondents indicated to a lack of transparency and poor consistency in the process of awarding the funding and to insufficient information, which detailed the criteria for eligibility of applicants. Henceforth, the study concluded that municipal employee underutilized the AEP because of being ill informed about it. This resulted in the employee perception that the program had little or no benefit to them and that it had no value in improving their human capital development. This finding is shown by a Chi-square goodness of fit test to be statistically significant (std=1.49150; mean=2.7500; p=.000).
ICT possibilities for primary and secondary education in Africa
(iaeme, 2019) Fomunyam, Kehdinga George
Information and Communication Technology (ICT), is an essential aspect of the primary and secondary education system in Africa. It is a well-known fact that ICT improves the quality of learning and teaching curriculum in schools, while serving as an agent of change by bringing growth and development to the economy. The aim of this paper is to highlight the positive impact of ICT in primary schools across the African continent. It discovers that this new world order is under-utilized in schools as teachers prefer using the traditional way of teaching. The paper concludes that the governments should come up with appropriate ICT policies to improve the school systems and recommends the introduction of workshops and training for teachers at all levels of education.
The influence of social media in building organisational relationships in the public relations industry in South Africa
(2023-11-30) Mzizi, Siyabonga L.; Govender, Nereshnee; Govender, Vaneshree
Social media has created a new era of global communication. It is reshaping communication in organisations, thereby compeling many to rethink their communication strategies. In today's technologically driven era, organisations face a multitude of responsibilities and challenges, one of which is the participatory nature of social media which requires a high level of responsiveness. Despite the global social media revolution, not all public relations practitioners in organisations use social media to its fullest potential, regardless of the advantages it may offer. This case study on a leading public relations and communications body in South Africa is used to analyse how social media could be used to maintain effective organisational communication. An interpretative, qualitative approach is employed. Data is gathered through interviews and thematic analysis enabled the categorisation of data into themes. Findings reveal a poor level of engagement on social media platforms and recommends the creation of online discussion forums, the reviewing and monitoring social media platforms, enabling the younger generation of public relations practitioners to spearhead social media activity, and the training and development of practitioners to instil confidence and understanding of social media use.
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.
Optimal control intervention strategies using an n-patch waterborne disease model
(Wiley, 2016-11) Collins, Obiora Cornelius; Duffy, Kevin Jan
Waterborne diseases are an important concern in public health, especially in communities with limited access to clean water. Diﬀer-ent community subpopulations can require diﬀerent copping strategies for the same diseases. Modeling is one method to assist understanding and the development of eﬀective strategies. To this end, we investigated the use of meta-population models with three types of control interventions: vaccination, treatment, and water puriﬁcation. Important mathematical features of the model are determined and examined. Optimal control, applied to the model, is also formulated to determine the eﬀective strategies to reduce the spread of the disease. For example, using optimal control, a four-fold reduc-tion in infected individuals is possible. The value of such an improvement to the communities involved would be signiﬁcant.
The role of information and communication technology in tertiary education in Africa
(IAEME Publication, 2019-12) Fomunyam, Kehdinga George
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays an essential role in all sectors of an economy including education. In the higher education sector, the usefulness of ICT cuts across all disciplines of study from mathematics to social science. ICT transforms the educational system by replacing traditional ways of teaching and learning with modern, computer-based infrastructure. This paper highlights the role of ICT and its ability to increase the quality of education in higher institutions of learning in Africa. The paper further discusses the advantages of having ICT infrastructure such as: e-learning/virtual library, access to quality education through special tools for physically challenged students in tertiary institutions across Africa. The study concludes that government funding of ICT infrastructure is important so as to improve the quality of education in tertiary institutions.
The role of international academic professionals in the development of entrepreneurial universities in South Africa : Government funded universities perspective
(Open Journal Systems, 2018-10) Mutanda, Mary; Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele; Moyo, Sibusiso
There is a wide belief and acceptance from leading government and business experts that small enterprises and entrepreneurship are the key components to unemployment and poverty alleviation in any country. Unfortunately, high unemployment levels, low entrepreneurial activity and high small business failure rate have become the main characteristics of the South African economy. Post-school education is partially blamed for the dropping levels of entrepreneurial activities in the country. South Africa’s tertiary education system continues to focus on producing job-seekers instead of job creators. This problem has forced South African Universities to explore more on their potential of becoming more entrepreneurial, but lack of academics in the field of entrepreneurship has been found to be a hindrance to success in this agenda. To avert this obstacle, it is reiterated that internationalisation is key to any university entrepreneurship strategy, and therefore universities are encouraged to internationalise through attracting international entrepreneurial staff. The purpose of this literature review paper is twofold. The first part explores the role played by international academic professionals in the establishment of entrepreneurial universities in South Africa, while the second aims at evaluating the state of entrepreneurship development in higher education and the potential of South African universities becoming more entrepreneurial. The study employs both quantitative and qualitative research techniques (mixed method). The study reveals that South African universities should internationalise if they are to succeed in the entrepreneurial strategy. In addition, it is found that foreign academics have the required skills and bring in the diverse expertise needed for the establishment of entrepreneurial universities. Moreover, the presence of international academics has enhanced entrepreneurship mindset of local staff and students. It is recommended that universities should establish entrepreneurial institutes which are affiliated to them in order to drive this initiative and that the establishment of entrepreneurial universities is the way to go in South Africa if the country is to beat poverty and unemployment.
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.
‘Walking our talk’ : exploring supervision of postgraduate self-study research through metaphor drawing
(Unisa Press, 2014) Pithouse-Morgan, K.; Chisanga, T.; Meyiwa, Thenjiwe; Muthukrishna, N.; Naicker, I.; Singh, L.; Van Laren, L.; Harrison, Liz
The authors of this article portray their learning as a group of eight academics who met to examine the roles and relationships of supervisors of postgraduate self-study research. In the article, they represent how through a metaphor-drawing activity they were able collectively to rethink their experiences and understandings of becoming and being supervisors of postgraduate self-study students. They used a metaphor-drawing activity to gain further understanding of self-study supervision, while also learning more about how visual methods can assist in self-study research. Significantly, in their drawings the supervisor was portrayed as a partner working with the student during the supervision process, rather than as a provider of expert knowledge. Through collaborative interactions and sharing of their personal images of supervision of postgraduate self-study research with critical friends, they were able to reconsider their practices in a reflexive manner that provided insight into possibilities for enhancing their supervisory roles and relationships.
Water security in South Africa: perceptions on public expectations and municipal obligations, governance and water re-use
(Creative Commons Attribution Licence, 2016-07-03) Sershen, S.; Rodda, N.; Stenström, Thor-Axel; Schmidt, S.; Dent, M.; Bux, Faizal; Hanke, N.; Buckley, C. A.; Fennemore, C.
South Africa is a water-scarce country with increasing pressure on its water resources. Urgent interventions are needed to protect water security within this rapidly developing country. This paper reports on an interdisciplinary Water Security Colloquium, convened by the South African Young Academy of Science in 2014. A selected group of water professionals from academia, civil society and local government was brought together to discuss water security under three focus themes: ‘public expectations and municipal obligations’, ‘water security and governance: challenges and advances’, and ‘water re-use: health and infrastructural considerations’. Participant perceptions were generated using a focus group methodology, combined with participatory data collection methods. Under each theme, inputs were categorised as ‘challenges’, ‘gaps in knowledge’, and ‘solutions/recommendations’ and these inputs were thereafter ranked in order of importance via a ‘voting’ process. Major challenges perceived included a lack of both skills and political will in government, a need to restore citizen trust in government intention and capability to deliver water-related services, and a failure to up-scale existing water re-use technology. Participants identified understanding of the process and implications of the Green and Blue Drop Programmes, knowledge transfer to the public, and the role of educators as major knowledge gaps. The top suggestions proposed included creating public awareness around and buy-in to initiatives to improve water security, accessible and user-friendly conversion of research results to implementation, and ensuring an active role for educators in creating awareness around water security. In view of the concerns identified, participants suggested as potential solutions: improving government and public understanding around water issues, incentivising water re-use and conservation, introducing rising block tariffs and improving human capacity development in the water sector. Developing the ecological infrastructure that protects both quantity and quality of water and building strong partnerships among all stakeholders were also recognised as key.
Women in selected rural municipalities: Resilience and agency against vulnerabilities to climate change
(Taylor and Francis, 2014-11-03) Meyiwa, Thenjiwe; Maseti, Thandokazi; Ngubane, Sizani; Letsekha, Tebello; Rozani, Carina
The role of rural women in eradicating poverty and ending hunger has been recognised by both scholars and practitioners. There is an acknowledgement that women serve a critical role in the agricultural labour force, subsistence farming, and rural development in sub-Saharan Africa, yet their central role in food security has been largely ignored, particularly in policy (Govender, 2012). Although much of the labour of rural women is not nationally defined as economically active employment these women still spend long hours in undervalued productive and reproductive work to ensure the well-being of their households. Linked to this role is the challenge of dealing with rapidly changing climatic conditions. Women assume primary responsibility in fetching water and wood for meal preparation, and in tilling the ground. They are among the most vulnerable groups to climate change as a result of their precarious environmental livelihoods. Using data from a workshop with rural women to discuss climate change and qualitative interviews with rural women in selected rural communities in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal we explore the meaning of climate change. We report on the way climate change is understood, its effects on rural livelihoods and some responses to climate change problems experienced by the women in the communities. The women in the rural communities highlight that there are also social problems that have arisen from water scarcity. As a result of the household division of labour, rural girls confront particular challenges as they need to search further from home for water and are exposed to the risk of gender violence.