scholarly journals A Systematic Review of Challenges in Research Supervision at South African Universities

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
King Costa
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
South African ◽  
National Development ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Higher Learning ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Research Supervision ◽  
Knowledge Based Economy ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Learning

Postgraduate students in South Africa and other parts of the world, particularly in developing nations struggle to complete the research component of their studies. According to the National Development Plan ( 2013) it has become a requirement for South African institutions to play a pivotal role in knowledge production so as to transform South Africa from a resource-based economy towards a knowledge-based economy.  In pursuit of meeting this requirement and further to increase subsidy from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), South African institutions of higher learning have been on the drive for recruiting postgraduate students en masse. One of the main problems facing South African institutions is that the number of students enrolled does not correspond to those who graduate at the end of the postgraduate programme study period.  This study is a systematic review of literature on challenges in postgraduate supervision and further proposes a possible solution.  Five South African institutions of higher learning’s postgraduate throughput data is carefully studied and substantiated by previous research on postgraduate supervision challenges on these particular institutions. Study findings present challenges related to research capacity development and burden of supervision at these institutions.  Collaborative methods of supervision such as the C.O.S.T.A model are hereby proposed as possible solutions to the current throughput problem in South Africa.

scholarly journals ‘Selfishly backward’ or ‘selflessly forward?’: A white male’s insider perspective on a challenge and opportunity of decolonisation for practical theology in the South African context

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfred R. Brunsdon
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Practical Theology ◽  
Higher Learning ◽  
Mass Action ◽  
South Africans ◽  
White Males ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Learning ◽  
Sitz Im Leben ◽  
African Context

Depending on the Sitz im Leben of practical theologian, the issue of decolonisation will be a greater or lesser reality. For South Africans, decolonisation has become a part of their daily living. Decolonisation can be regarded as a second wave of liberation in the post-apartheid South Africa. Following on the first wave, or even the tsunami of transformation, is the urgent call for the decolonisation of colonial knowledge, structures and epistemologies that endured in the new dispensation. Squarely in the aim of decolonisation efforts are institutions of higher learning and by implication all disciplines taught there, including theology. The non-negotiability of the decolonisation of higher education is evident in the recurring violent protests and mass action, as expressed in different ‘#must-fall’ campaigns over the last few years. This article argues that the current decolonisation drive in South Africa is urging local practical theologians to make an important choice, namely to move ‘selfishly backward’ or ‘selflessly forward’. In other words, maintaining current practices or exploring alternatives in a new context. This choice is embedded in the reality that a significant number of practical theologians in South Africa are white males that may, from a decolonisation perspective, be deemed part of the colonisation legacy. Against this background, the article attempts to provide a reflective insider’s perspective on a challenge and opportunity this creates for practical theology.

Teaching and Re-Imagining the Role of Medical Sociology in South Africa During COVID-19

2021 ◽  
pp. 175-194
Author(s):  
Chinwe Obuaku-Igwe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Medical Sociology ◽  
International Health ◽  
Higher Learning ◽  
Virus Family ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Learning

The outbreak of COVID-19 of the SARS-COV virus family took the world by storm beginning February 2020 and became an international health crisis. Due to its unknown origins and manner of transmission, the South African government implemented lockdown measures to curtail the spread of the virus in March. These measures led to the closure of businesses across the country and sectors, including schools. The closure of schools resulted in the migration to online learning for most institutions of higher learning in South Africa. It brings with it challenges, opportunities for innovation, and reimagining pedagogical approaches, particularly in low resource settings. This chapter reflects on the nature and extent of the author's engagement with students enrolled in a health and medical sociology course during the COVID-19 lockdown in South Africa. Here, they reflect on the challenges encountered while moving a course that was designed to be delivered in person (face-to-face) to an online environment.

scholarly journals State and Revolution: Reflections from South African Institutions of Higher Learning

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mavhungu Elias Musitha
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
South African ◽  
Higher Learning ◽  
The Past ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Learning ◽  
Tear Gas ◽  
Democratic Rights ◽  
Democratic Principles

Democratic states should use democratic principles namely engagement, negotiation, discussion, persuasion and participation to resolve challenges in societies. This is in contrast to colonial and apartheid states which used police, army, imprisonment, exile or banishment from the country against blacks who demanded democratic rights. This study investigates whether democratic South Africa embraces democratic principles highlighted above to deal with its domestic problems or is merely an extension of colonial and apartheid states in addressing challenges it faces. The study makes use of literature to answer the question. This is a qualitative study. The study found that democratic South Africa uses the same undemocratic instruments as evidenced by its handling of the #FeesMustFall campaign.  #FeesMustFall leaders and students are being shot at, arrested, and imprisoned in the same jails built and used by the apartheid state, stun grenades are being thrown at them and tear gas sprayed at them. The conclusion of this study is that by implementing similar instruments of maintaining security there is no difference between the means used by oppressive colonial and apartheid governments of the past and those used by democratic SA today.

scholarly journals Factors influencing speech language pathologists’ and audiologists’ decision to pursue postgraduate studies in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Sebothoma ◽  
Khetsiwe Masuku ◽  
Nomfundo Moroe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Higher Learning ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Learning ◽  
Job Opportunities ◽  
Postgraduate Studies ◽  
Speech Therapists

Background: Factors that influence various professionals to pursue postgraduate studies have been investigated. However, there is a dearth of evidence of factors that influence South African speech language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists (As) to pursue their postgraduate studies.Objective: Therefore, this study aimed to determine factors that influence the decision of South African SLPs and As to pursue postgraduate studies and potential barriers to this pursuit.Method: A quantitative survey research methodology with a cross-sectional research design was adopted, where a 21-item web-based survey was used to survey 127 speech therapists, As and speech therapists and As from across the country. All participants were qualified and registered with the Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA). Ethical clearance and permission from relevant stakeholders were obtained. Data were analysed descriptively.Results: The findings suggested that over half of the participants pursued their postgraduate studies to fulfil a personal goal and improve their knowledge, whilst others did it to develop expertise and for job opportunities. Participants highlighted that a lack of time and funding, heavy workloads and bad experiences during their undergraduate studies were the main barriers to pursuing postgraduate studies. Whilst community service was not a barrier per se, participants felt that it delayed them from beginning their postgraduate studies immediately.Conclusion: The findings of this study highlighted the urgent need for institutions of higher learning, government and other stakeholders to provide the necessary support for SLPs and As in South Africa to pursue postgraduate studies.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic Implications of Examination Fraud and Assessment Irregularities in South Africa’s Higher Education Sector: A Futuristic View

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3(S)) ◽  
pp. 39-46
Author(s):  
Chux Gervase Iwu
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Nation Building ◽  
High Standard ◽  
Higher Learning ◽  
Education Sector ◽  
Documentary Evidence ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Learning

This paper, based on scholarly as well as documentary evidence, intends to highlight thesocioeconomic implications of fraud and assessment irregularities in South Africa’s higher education. Highereducation institutions serve nation building purposes and as such it is expected that what they produceshould be of high standard in order to further this purpose. Lately, owing to the rise in assessmentmalpractices across South African institutions of higher learning, calls have been made by business andsociety for ways to deal with this. This paper asks a few questions related to what constitutes fraud andassessment irregularities and the sources of these. The paper also points out what these portend for highereducation in South Africa while at the same suggesting some recommendations. This paper contributes to theliterature on the growing concerns of educators and researchers regarding high levels of examinationmalpractice and assessment irregularities within higher education sector globally, but in particular SouthAfrica.

scholarly journals Developing a supervisor identity through experiential learning: Narratives of three novice academics working in a South African University

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sibonelo Blose ◽  
Vusi Msiza ◽  
Freedom Chiororo
Keyword(s):  
Experiential Learning ◽  
Narrative Inquiry ◽  
South African ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Role Identity ◽  
Higher Learning ◽  
Significant Other ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Learning

One of the critical tasks of academics in any research-intensive university is the supervision of postgraduate students. Given the central role of this activity, how novice academics learn to supervise is significant. In this paper, we present our narratives as novice academics, and we focus on our learning of the supervision role. We drew from experiential learning and role identity theories to frame our understanding of this process. Using a narrative inquiry methodology, we shared and examined our narratives of lived experiences as novice supervisors. Upon examining our narratives, we identified four sources of learning that were significant in developing our supervisor identity: our current or previous supervisors; senior colleagues; meaningful corridor talks; and the practice of reflexivity. We recommend that institutions of higher learning pay added attention to the development of novice supervisors. Although structured programmes are significant, other learning avenues need to be explored to assist novice supervisors to develop a supervisor identity.

South African Economy: No Easy Life Ahead

2015 ◽  
pp. 104-116
Author(s):  
P. Mozias
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
South African ◽  
Trade Unions ◽  
Current Account Deficit ◽  
National Development ◽  
Capital Inflows ◽  
The Other ◽  
The One

South African rand depreciated in 2013–2014 under the influence of a number of factors. Internationally, its weakness was associated with the capital outflow from all emerging markets as a result of QE’s tapering in the US. Domestically, rand plummeted because of the deterioration of the macroeconomic stance of South Africa itself: economic growth stalled and current account deficit widened again. Consumer spending was restrained with the high household indebtedness, investment climate worsened with the wave of bloody strikes, and net export was still prone to J-curve effect despite the degree of the devaluation happened. But, in its turn, those problems are a mere reflection of the deep institutional misbalances inherent to the very model of the national economy. Saving rate is too low in South Africa. This leads not only to an insufficient investment, but also to trade deficits and overdependence on speculative capital inflows. Extremely high unemployment means that the country’s economic potential is substantially underutilized. Joblessness is generated, first and foremost, by the dualistic structure of the national entrepreneurship. Basic wages are being formed by way of a bargaining between big public and semi state companies, on the one hand, and trade unions associated with the ruling party, on the other. Such a system is biased towards protection of vested interests of those who earn money in capital-intensive industries. At the same time, these rates of wages are prohibitively high for a small business; so far private companies tend to avoid job creation. A new impulse to economic development is likely to emerge only through the government’s efforts to mitigate disproportions and to pursue an active industrial policy. National Development Plan adopted in 2012 is a practical step in that direction. But the growth of public investment is constrained by a necessity of fiscal austerity; as a result, the budget deficit remained too large in recent years. South African Reserve Bank will have to choose between a stimulation of economic growth with low interest rates, on the one hand, and a support of rand by tightening of monetary policy, on the other. This dilemma will greatly influence prices of securities and yields at South African financial markets.

E-Crime and Non-Compliance with Government Regulations on E-Commerce

2010 ◽  
pp. 47-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.E. Kyobe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
National Development ◽  
Security Requirements ◽  
Regulatory Requirements ◽  
Technological Factors ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Market Competitiveness ◽  
Security Practices ◽  
Electronic Crime

E-commerce is critical to national development. Small and Medium sized organizations (SMEs) are encouraged to adopt it to address poverty, improve competitiveness and productivity. However, the escalation in electronic crime (e-crime) and lack of compliance with e-commerce regulations threaten e-commerce success in South Africa. While many strategies for improving e-commerce have been suggested, the focus has mainly been on economic and technological factors and less on human and social aspects such as compliance behaviors. This has resulted in the development of e-commerce systems that do not incorporate regulatory requirements. Consequently, the level of exposure to cyber-risks and legal liabilities has increased and SME market competitiveness compromised (Kyobe, 2009). This chapter examines the factors influencing compliance with e-commerce regulations and e-security requirements and how these impact on e-commerce optimization in South African SMEs. It also provides some useful frameworks and checklists SME managers can use to evaluate their compliance behaviors and security practices in order to make improvement to their e-commerce activities.

Ethnicity, Tribalism, and Xenophobia in a South African Rural-Based University

2021 ◽  
pp. 152-172
Author(s):  
Mavhungu Abel Mafukata
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Cultural Diversity ◽  
South African ◽  
Higher Learning ◽  
South African Government ◽  
The South ◽  
African Government ◽  
Ethnic Tensions ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Learning ◽  
The University

The South African government has lobbied institutions of higher learning to recruit academics from across Africa to address the challenge of shortage of skills. Some universities have indeed exploited this opportunity. However, it has emerged that these nationals get to face unbearable anti-social behavior from the locals. Among others, these expatriates contend incidences of tribal-ethnic tensions and xenophobia. Multiple theories were adopted to assist the analysis. The results revealed that there was evidence of tribalism, ethnicity, and incited xenophobia at this university. Furthermore, the study found that the acts of tribalism and ethnicity cut across the university community. The study revealed that deaneries and departments reflected ethnic-tribal orientations depending on the tribes of the respective incumbents in those sections. The university should recognise that it has become a space of cultural diversity where people should be recognized outside the ethnic and tribal framework of locality.

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