There are many challenges faced by scholars when designing research that is ethically compliant. These include issues of consent, confidentiality, and how to give feedback to participants, for example. However less is known about how non-South African researchers, specifically Zimbabwean doctoral students, navigate ethical dilemmas when conducting their fieldwork whilst being registered in South African universities. This gap is especially concerning given the high number of Zimbabwean doctoral students in South Africa. This paper poses the following questions: (1) What are the challenges encountered by a Zimbabwean doctoral student doing fieldwork in Zimbabwe whilst being supervised in a South African university? (2) How can these challenges be mitigated? In answering these questions, the paper uses a collaborative autoethnographic approach to empirically ground its arguments. The paper argues that South Africa’s higher education institutions have a duty to ensure research integrity of its students even if those students are conducting fieldwork outside South African borders. We observe that there is often a disconnect between formal ethical administrative processes and what actually happens on the ground. Potential solutions are to increase the autonomy and improvisation of students and supervisors in overseeing and doing research in these contexts.
{"title":"Improvising Ethics? A Collaborative Autoethnographic Account of the Challenges Faced when doing Fieldwork in Zimbabwe","authors":"F. Maunganidze, S. Ruggunan","doi":"10.51415/ajims.v3i1.969","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.51415/ajims.v3i1.969","url":null,"abstract":"There are many challenges faced by scholars when designing research that is ethically compliant. These include issues of consent, confidentiality, and how to give feedback to participants, for example. However less is known about how non-South African researchers, specifically Zimbabwean doctoral students, navigate ethical dilemmas when conducting their fieldwork whilst being registered in South African universities. This gap is especially concerning given the high number of Zimbabwean doctoral students in South Africa. This paper poses the following questions: (1) What are the challenges encountered by a Zimbabwean doctoral student doing fieldwork in Zimbabwe whilst being supervised in a South African university? (2) How can these challenges be mitigated? In answering these questions, the paper uses a collaborative autoethnographic approach to empirically ground its arguments. The paper argues that South Africa’s higher education institutions have a duty to ensure research integrity of its students even if those students are conducting fieldwork outside South African borders. We observe that there is often a disconnect between formal ethical administrative processes and what actually happens on the ground. Potential solutions are to increase the autonomy and improvisation of students and supervisors in overseeing and doing research in these contexts.","PeriodicalId":389941,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Inter/Multidisciplinary Studies","volume":"132 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122645041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A continuum of care is an integrated system of care that guides and monitors patients throughout their lives as they access a variety of health services. The purpose of this literature review was to identify barriers to care throughout the continuum of care that affect the services provided to neonates. A comprehensive search of electronic databases PUBMED, EBSCOhost Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, and ScienceDirect was used to identify relevant literature. Furthermore, policy documents from organisations such as the South African National Department of Health, the South African Nursing Council, and the World Health Organisation have been sourced via websites. The review concludes that gaps exist due to a lack of neonatal care facilities, neonatal infrastructure and supplies, and staff shortages despite increased demand for neonatal care. Additionally, institutional issues and policies should be reviewed, as they may contribute to an efficient continuum of neonatal care. Moreover, training specialised healthcare workers is critical to ensuring that neonates receive quality care.
{"title":"The Continuum of Care for the Neonate: A Critical Review","authors":"L. Hillermann","doi":"10.51415/ajims.v4i1.971","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.51415/ajims.v4i1.971","url":null,"abstract":"A continuum of care is an integrated system of care that guides and monitors patients throughout their lives as they access a variety of health services. The purpose of this literature review was to identify barriers to care throughout the continuum of care that affect the services provided to neonates. A comprehensive search of electronic databases PUBMED, EBSCOhost Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, and ScienceDirect was used to identify relevant literature. Furthermore, policy documents from organisations such as the South African National Department of Health, the South African Nursing Council, and the World Health Organisation have been sourced via websites. The review concludes that gaps exist due to a lack of neonatal care facilities, neonatal infrastructure and supplies, and staff shortages despite increased demand for neonatal care. Additionally, institutional issues and policies should be reviewed, as they may contribute to an efficient continuum of neonatal care. Moreover, training specialised healthcare workers is critical to ensuring that neonates receive quality care.","PeriodicalId":389941,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Inter/Multidisciplinary Studies","volume":"16 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126654198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 1900-01-01DOI: 10.51415/ajims.v5i1.1129
Merishca Naicker, Denver Naidoo, Mjabuliseni S. C. Ngidi
South Africa, while nationally acknowledged as food secure, grapples with persistent household food insecurity, particularly in rural areas. Addressing this issue, the implementation of community gardens has gained traction. This mixed methods study focuses on the impact of community gardens on food security at the household level, exemplified by the community gardens in ward 18 of Umdoni Municipality. These gardens not only provide sustenance but also generate supplementary income through surplus crop sales. However, climate change threatens food systems and vulnerable livelihoods, necessitating assessment. A survey of 120 community garden participants was conducted, employing questionnaires and focused group discussions to gauge perspectives on crop production and food security. The survey revealed that 58.3% of participants did not receive sufficient food from community gardens, while 41.7% reported adequate supply. Only 15.8% achieved food security, with the majority (40%) experiencing moderate food insecurity. Challenges cited encompassed shifting rainfall patterns, temperature fluctuations, heightened disease, and pest pressures, and altered planting seasons. Intriguingly, despite their establishment, community gardens appeared ineffective in substantially improving household food security. These findings underscore the need for enhancing productivity and climate resilience within community gardens. Future research could illuminate strategies to bolster garden productivity and mitigate climate change impacts.
{"title":"Assessing the Impact of Community Gardens in Mitigating Household Food Insecurity and Addressing Climate Change Challenges: A Case Study of Ward 18, Umdoni Municipality, South Africa","authors":"Merishca Naicker, Denver Naidoo, Mjabuliseni S. C. Ngidi","doi":"10.51415/ajims.v5i1.1129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.51415/ajims.v5i1.1129","url":null,"abstract":"South Africa, while nationally acknowledged as food secure, grapples with persistent household food insecurity, particularly in rural areas. Addressing this issue, the implementation of community gardens has gained traction. This mixed methods study focuses on the impact of community gardens on food security at the household level, exemplified by the community gardens in ward 18 of Umdoni Municipality. These gardens not only provide sustenance but also generate supplementary income through surplus crop sales. However, climate change threatens food systems and vulnerable livelihoods, necessitating assessment. A survey of 120 community garden participants was conducted, employing questionnaires and focused group discussions to gauge perspectives on crop production and food security. The survey revealed that 58.3% of participants did not receive sufficient food from community gardens, while 41.7% reported adequate supply. Only 15.8% achieved food security, with the majority (40%) experiencing moderate food insecurity. Challenges cited encompassed shifting rainfall patterns, temperature fluctuations, heightened disease, and pest pressures, and altered planting seasons. Intriguingly, despite their establishment, community gardens appeared ineffective in substantially improving household food security. These findings underscore the need for enhancing productivity and climate resilience within community gardens. Future research could illuminate strategies to bolster garden productivity and mitigate climate change impacts.","PeriodicalId":389941,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Inter/Multidisciplinary Studies","volume":"69 17","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131471004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rapid technological growth, consumer fulfillment, shorter product life cycles, and more penetrating international competition define the business environment nowadays. The new competitive environment has required companies to acquire new ways of effectively pursuing a competitive advantage, since the competitive advantage of a firm now depends on operational efficiency and productivity across its functional areas. The main purpose of this research was to study the relation amongst supply chain capabilities (supply chain network design, supply chain information capabilities, and supply chain integration) and supply chain agility on firm performance in the Gauteng province’s manufacturing sector in South Africa. Structured questionnaires were circulated to different manufacturing firms in the Gauteng province. Data was analysed using SPSS and AMOS 26.0 software. Results showed that the level of firm performance in the manufacturing sector is dependent upon the effectiveness of supply chain capabilities and the existence of a sound long-term relationship between partners in the supply chain. Manufacturing managers and proprietors may be able to enhance the levels of firm performance by making improvements to supply chain technologies and improving supply chain agility by cultivating long-lasting sound relationships with key suppliers and customers.
{"title":"Do Supply Chain Capabilities have an Impact on Firm Performance? A Case of the Manufacturing Sector in Gauteng Province","authors":"M. Tlale, Johan Van der Westhuizen, E. Chinomona","doi":"10.51415/ajims.v4i1.938","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.51415/ajims.v4i1.938","url":null,"abstract":"Rapid technological growth, consumer fulfillment, shorter product life cycles, and more penetrating international competition define the business environment nowadays. The new competitive environment has required companies to acquire new ways of effectively pursuing a competitive advantage, since the competitive advantage of a firm now depends on operational efficiency and productivity across its functional areas. The main purpose of this research was to study the relation amongst supply chain capabilities (supply chain network design, supply chain information capabilities, and supply chain integration) and supply chain agility on firm performance in the Gauteng province’s manufacturing sector in South Africa. Structured questionnaires were circulated to different manufacturing firms in the Gauteng province. Data was analysed using SPSS and AMOS 26.0 software. Results showed that the level of firm performance in the manufacturing sector is dependent upon the effectiveness of supply chain capabilities and the existence of a sound long-term relationship between partners in the supply chain. Manufacturing managers and proprietors may be able to enhance the levels of firm performance by making improvements to supply chain technologies and improving supply chain agility by cultivating long-lasting sound relationships with key suppliers and customers.","PeriodicalId":389941,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Inter/Multidisciplinary Studies","volume":"52 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128758734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 1900-01-01DOI: 10.51415/ajims.v5i1.1202
Giles Duniya, Kehinde Adewumi
The arguably retrogressive development of infrastructures, socio-political systems and technology in most African states casts a shadow of doubt on Africa’s claim to modernity and by extension, postmodernity. Within the context of the arts, the argument of this paper is premised on two questions: Why do some Nigerian artists claim to be post-modern? What is the viability of such a claim, in a country that, one is wondering whether it is even a modern society? To proffer answers to these questions, the paper enunciates a historical overview of contemporary African art and artists vis-à-vis the generalized concept of post-modernity, from the subjective view that its conceptualization and understanding, have a direct influence on contemporary artistic practice and expression. The paper then interrogates certain arts, within the context of their postmodern trend. The paper's conceptual framework is premised on Peroziosi’s (2009) postulation that artworks are reflective of their original time, place, and production circumstances. The authors conclude that contemporary artists’ responses to and their manifestation of postmodernist trends are such that can be categorised into three: Those who aspire faithfully to postmodernist principles; those who are inspired by postmodernism but want to progress their society by socio-political and economic reflections, criticism and advocacies as well as those who ordinarily would not have been artists perhaps, if not for the freedom provided by postmodernism.
{"title":"Contemporary Nigerian Artists' Response to Postmodernist Trends and Its Implications for Effective Artistic Growth","authors":"Giles Duniya, Kehinde Adewumi","doi":"10.51415/ajims.v5i1.1202","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.51415/ajims.v5i1.1202","url":null,"abstract":"The arguably retrogressive development of infrastructures, socio-political systems and technology in most African states casts a shadow of doubt on Africa’s claim to modernity and by extension, postmodernity. Within the context of the arts, the argument of this paper is premised on two questions: Why do some Nigerian artists claim to be post-modern? What is the viability of such a claim, in a country that, one is wondering whether it is even a modern society? To proffer answers to these questions, the paper enunciates a historical overview of contemporary African art and artists vis-à-vis the generalized concept of post-modernity, from the subjective view that its conceptualization and understanding, have a direct influence on contemporary artistic practice and expression. The paper then interrogates certain arts, within the context of their postmodern trend. The paper's conceptual framework is premised on Peroziosi’s (2009) postulation that artworks are reflective of their original time, place, and production circumstances. The authors conclude that contemporary artists’ responses to and their manifestation of postmodernist trends are such that can be categorised into three: Those who aspire faithfully to postmodernist principles; those who are inspired by postmodernism but want to progress their society by socio-political and economic reflections, criticism and advocacies as well as those who ordinarily would not have been artists perhaps, if not for the freedom provided by postmodernism.","PeriodicalId":389941,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Inter/Multidisciplinary Studies","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116784125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 1900-01-01DOI: 10.51415/ajims.v4i1.1023
Stuart Perrin, Hua Sun
Higher education is coming under increasing pressure. Central to this is the global growth in disruptive technologies, accelerated by responses to the recent global pandemic. The pressure on how education is taught is immense, especially as concurrently there is a change in the career objectives of graduates, and the skill sets required by employers, with transferability high on the wish list. This paper provides a discussion and case study of how one institution has taken up this challenge through the development of a new educational model, named Syntegrative Education. It highlights how Syntegrative Education, through symbiotic partnerships with industry, creates an industry-oriented ecosystem, embracing learning, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and social interaction, matching the learning experience with dynamic AI oriented industry employability demands, ensuring all graduates are future ready with entrepreneurial graduate attributes. The case study focuses specifically on the innovative change to delivery and assessment. Through the industry partnerships, students are introduced to research and inquiry based learning through real-life problems, proposed and initiated by industry. Industry also works as mentors for the students alongside academics. The article concludes by highlighting the potential for other institutions who wish to follow the same route of curriculum development.
{"title":"Graduate Employability through Industry-Oriented, Problem-Based Learning: A Case Study","authors":"Stuart Perrin, Hua Sun","doi":"10.51415/ajims.v4i1.1023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.51415/ajims.v4i1.1023","url":null,"abstract":"Higher education is coming under increasing pressure. Central to this is the global growth in disruptive technologies, accelerated by responses to the recent global pandemic. The pressure on how education is taught is immense, especially as concurrently there is a change in the career objectives of graduates, and the skill sets required by employers, with transferability high on the wish list. This paper provides a discussion and case study of how one institution has taken up this challenge through the development of a new educational model, named Syntegrative Education. It highlights how Syntegrative Education, through symbiotic partnerships with industry, creates an industry-oriented ecosystem, embracing learning, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and social interaction, matching the learning experience with dynamic AI oriented industry employability demands, ensuring all graduates are future ready with entrepreneurial graduate attributes. The case study focuses specifically on the innovative change to delivery and assessment. Through the industry partnerships, students are introduced to research and inquiry based learning through real-life problems, proposed and initiated by industry. Industry also works as mentors for the students alongside academics. The article concludes by highlighting the potential for other institutions who wish to follow the same route of curriculum development.","PeriodicalId":389941,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Inter/Multidisciplinary Studies","volume":"54 77 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115776133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
South Africa continues to grapple with water insecurity, especially regarding access to rural household water. Access to water in rural areas is communal, yet its distribution remains uneven. A mixed-methods approach was used to elicit data for this study. Quantitative data were collected from 211 households using the survey method where a questionnaire was administered. Qualitative data were collected using key-informant interviews with 20 participants. Quantitative data were analysed using the SPSS software. Qualitative data were analysed using the thematic content analysis technique. The findings indicate that water resource management is intertwined with water allocation. Evidence from Goboti and Khubvi reflect structural inequities and the lack of equalisation of opportunities, especially considering the absence of socially inclusive policy interventions, including the Water Services Act (No. 108 of 1997), which has arguably failed to address the challenges impeding rural household water provision. Further, findings unveiled the fallacy that rural households have a greater acceptance of communal water. This study reflects on how the mandate for transformation has been ignored, prompting the need to understand the implications of lack of water in resource-constrained rural settings. Thus, it is imperative to focus on representation and inclusion within rural communities. More importantly, a commensurable allotment of water resources in South Africa’s post-apartheid extractive political economy and political power of water management remains necessary if water access must be attained.
{"title":"Reflections on Rural Household Water Insecurity: Evidence from Goboti and Khubvi in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo Provinces, South Africa","authors":"Zibongiwe Mpongwana, Kemist Shumba, S. Bracking","doi":"10.51415/ajims.v4i1.994","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.51415/ajims.v4i1.994","url":null,"abstract":"South Africa continues to grapple with water insecurity, especially regarding access to rural household water. Access to water in rural areas is communal, yet its distribution remains uneven. A mixed-methods approach was used to elicit data for this study. Quantitative data were collected from 211 households using the survey method where a questionnaire was administered. Qualitative data were collected using key-informant interviews with 20 participants. Quantitative data were analysed using the SPSS software. Qualitative data were analysed using the thematic content analysis technique. The findings indicate that water resource management is intertwined with water allocation. Evidence from Goboti and Khubvi reflect structural inequities and the lack of equalisation of opportunities, especially considering the absence of socially inclusive policy interventions, including the Water Services Act (No. 108 of 1997), which has arguably failed to address the challenges impeding rural household water provision. Further, findings unveiled the fallacy that rural households have a greater acceptance of communal water. This study reflects on how the mandate for transformation has been ignored, prompting the need to understand the implications of lack of water in resource-constrained rural settings. Thus, it is imperative to focus on representation and inclusion within rural communities. More importantly, a commensurable allotment of water resources in South Africa’s post-apartheid extractive political economy and political power of water management remains necessary if water access must be attained.","PeriodicalId":389941,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Inter/Multidisciplinary Studies","volume":"32 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126926060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 1900-01-01DOI: 10.51415/ajims.v5i1.1181
Fiona Langry, R. Rena
The informal business sector in many developing economies is often seen as a driver of economic growth due to the role that this sector plays in the creation of employment opportunities, increasing the social activities of its communities, and providing business opportunities for rural entrepreneurs. The informal economy has been known to be insulated from macro-economic volatility in the global markets, but this could be an oversight on the part of the national government as they have not taken this sector into account when determining GDP or strategic imperatives to bolster the economy. The COVID-19 pandemic showcased how unprepared many economies were in the face of harsh government-imposed lockdowns and the resultant job losses that occurred due to individuals being unable to go to work. The South African government, whilst acknowledging the informal sector and the subsequent economic and social role it plays, lacks the necessary policy framework and enablement of this sector, as well as a platform that enables the continuation of business practices for informal traders that will protect them from the daunting impacts of a pandemic or another global catastrophe. The purpose of this study is to comprehend and analyse the socio-economic ramifications of the COVID-19 epidemic and its impact on the informal economy in South Africa. To do so, the study utilises discourse analysis and which is carried out using a secondary data collection approach. Theses for master's and doctoral degrees, papers presented at conferences, policy documents, government gazettes, statistical data from governments, and reports from international organizations are all taken into consideration. Articles published in scientific journals that have been subject to the process of peer review are also taken into account. According to the findings of the study, in order to protect the informal sector from unforeseen disasters in the future, it is recommended that policies and protection mechanisms be put into place.
{"title":"The Socio-Economic Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic and its Impact on the South African Informal Economy","authors":"Fiona Langry, R. Rena","doi":"10.51415/ajims.v5i1.1181","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.51415/ajims.v5i1.1181","url":null,"abstract":"The informal business sector in many developing economies is often seen as a driver of economic growth due to the role that this sector plays in the creation of employment opportunities, increasing the social activities of its communities, and providing business opportunities for rural entrepreneurs. The informal economy has been known to be insulated from macro-economic volatility in the global markets, but this could be an oversight on the part of the national government as they have not taken this sector into account when determining GDP or strategic imperatives to bolster the economy. The COVID-19 pandemic showcased how unprepared many economies were in the face of harsh government-imposed lockdowns and the resultant job losses that occurred due to individuals being unable to go to work. The South African government, whilst acknowledging the informal sector and the subsequent economic and social role it plays, lacks the necessary policy framework and enablement of this sector, as well as a platform that enables the continuation of business practices for informal traders that will protect them from the daunting impacts of a pandemic or another global catastrophe. The purpose of this study is to comprehend and analyse the socio-economic ramifications of the COVID-19 epidemic and its impact on the informal economy in South Africa. To do so, the study utilises discourse analysis and which is carried out using a secondary data collection approach. Theses for master's and doctoral degrees, papers presented at conferences, policy documents, government gazettes, statistical data from governments, and reports from international organizations are all taken into consideration. Articles published in scientific journals that have been subject to the process of peer review are also taken into account. According to the findings of the study, in order to protect the informal sector from unforeseen disasters in the future, it is recommended that policies and protection mechanisms be put into place.","PeriodicalId":389941,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Inter/Multidisciplinary Studies","volume":"18 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126722932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 1900-01-01DOI: 10.51415/ajims.v5i1.1052
G. Ekobi, L. Mboh, P. Tanga
Indigenous knowledge is the cornerstone of the society’s agricultural growth; however, its documentation and dissemination remain big challenges. This paper explores the contribution of indigenous knowledge to agricultural growth in the Disaneng community. A qualitative research approach was employed in the study. Twenty participants took part in the study and semi-structured and unstructured interview guides were utilized to collect data from participants. The thematic approach was used to analyze results and five themes emerged during the study. Key themes that emerged include weather patterns, land preparation, seed selection, soil fertility, and stockpiling. The findings revealed that locals are endowed with indigenous knowledge (IK) on land preparation, seed selection, stockpiling, and soil fertility, and this promotes agricultural growth. The study concludes that IK acts as a vehicle for enhancing agricultural growth. However, challenges such as disregard of IK by some religious beliefs continue to hinder the application of IK for the growth of agriculture. Hence, for IK to continue influencing agricultural growth positively, effective measures should be introduced to mitigate the hindrances.
{"title":"Contribution of Indigenous Knowledge to Agricultural Growth in South Africa: A Case of Disaneng Community in the Ratlou Local Municipality","authors":"G. Ekobi, L. Mboh, P. Tanga","doi":"10.51415/ajims.v5i1.1052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.51415/ajims.v5i1.1052","url":null,"abstract":"Indigenous knowledge is the cornerstone of the society’s agricultural growth; however, its documentation and dissemination remain big challenges. This paper explores the contribution of indigenous knowledge to agricultural growth in the Disaneng community. A qualitative research approach was employed in the study. Twenty participants took part in the study and semi-structured and unstructured interview guides were utilized to collect data from participants. The thematic approach was used to analyze results and five themes emerged during the study. Key themes that emerged include weather patterns, land preparation, seed selection, soil fertility, and stockpiling. The findings revealed that locals are endowed with indigenous knowledge (IK) on land preparation, seed selection, stockpiling, and soil fertility, and this promotes agricultural growth. The study concludes that IK acts as a vehicle for enhancing agricultural growth. However, challenges such as disregard of IK by some religious beliefs continue to hinder the application of IK for the growth of agriculture. Hence, for IK to continue influencing agricultural growth positively, effective measures should be introduced to mitigate the hindrances.","PeriodicalId":389941,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Inter/Multidisciplinary Studies","volume":"38 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122088802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
COVID-19 was discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and since then it has spread to all parts of the world. The world almost came to a standstill in 2020 as only essential services were allowed to operate and those who could work remotely, worked from home. For the first time in modern history, newsrooms were moved to homes, classrooms moved online, and many other services were reconfigured. Online services and the internet became essential. In this context, questions like, “How do educational systems react ethically to the ongoing challenges raised by the pandemic?” and, “What ethical values should underpin the resetting of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)?” need to be answered. In this paper, based on desktop research, an examination of some of the ethical challenges confronting those running HEIs, researchers and lecturers as they are adapting to the ‘new normal’ is explored. This new operating environment creates difficult ethical choices. Findings from this study has shown that all South African HEIs managed to transition to online learning. However, the transition was not uniform, given the country’s background and economic divide. A number of barriers such as cost, electricity availability and internet access have been identified. Recommendations are made as to how HEIs in South Africa may protect their integrity and at the same time adapt to the new normal.
{"title":"COVID-19 and Beyond: The Ethical Challenges of Resetting Higher Education Institutions Services during and after the Pandemic","authors":"T. Ramsuraj","doi":"10.51415/ajims.v3i1.973","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.51415/ajims.v3i1.973","url":null,"abstract":"COVID-19 was discovered in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and since then it has spread to all parts of the world. The world almost came to a standstill in 2020 as only essential services were allowed to operate and those who could work remotely, worked from home. For the first time in modern history, newsrooms were moved to homes, classrooms moved online, and many other services were reconfigured. Online services and the internet became essential. In this context, questions like, “How do educational systems react ethically to the ongoing challenges raised by the pandemic?” and, “What ethical values should underpin the resetting of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)?” need to be answered. In this paper, based on desktop research, an examination of some of the ethical challenges confronting those running HEIs, researchers and lecturers as they are adapting to the ‘new normal’ is explored. This new operating environment creates difficult ethical choices. Findings from this study has shown that all South African HEIs managed to transition to online learning. However, the transition was not uniform, given the country’s background and economic divide. A number of barriers such as cost, electricity availability and internet access have been identified. Recommendations are made as to how HEIs in South Africa may protect their integrity and at the same time adapt to the new normal.","PeriodicalId":389941,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Inter/Multidisciplinary Studies","volume":"5 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134443939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}