Readiness for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

2021 ◽  
pp. 12-29
Author(s):  
Dagogo William Legg-Jack
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
South African ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution ◽  
Sample Data ◽  
Readiness To Learn ◽  
Acceptance Model ◽  
The Impact

This chapter explored the readiness of a South African university to take part in the fourth industrial revolution by exploring the experiences of students in science and technology on the impact of COVID-19 in the learning of their practical modules. Guided by two research questions, namely how the COVID-19 has impacted students' engagement with their practical modules and students' readiness to learn remotely and carry out the practical aspects of their modules, the chapter employ a qualitative case study approach to explore the views of students that offer courses that involve practical. Seven fourth-year students were purposively selected as study sample. Data were generated online using Google forms and were analysed thematically. The chapter was framed using the technology acceptance model. Findings revealed the following: ease and clarity of concept, lack of interaction with others, lack of motivation, lack of access to ICT facilities, lack of relevant materials to execute practical tasks, and lack of conducive learning environment.

The Impact of Cryptocurrencies on the General Powers and Duties of South African Insolvency Practitioners

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-318
Author(s):  
Sidasha Singh ◽  
Juanitta Calitz
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Insolvency Law ◽  
International Courts ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution ◽  
Legal Position ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Regulatory Model ◽  
The Impact

Within the context of the fourth industrial revolution, cryptocurrencies pose several challenges in the framework of corporate insolvency law. In South African law, no statutory framework vis-à-vis cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, currently exists. This has however not prevented entities from engaging in the cryptocurrency market. The specific dilemma is that insolvency practitioners do not have legislative guidelines to assist them in dealing with the subject of cryptocurrencies. Consequently, international judicial developments must be consulted and analysed with the aim to close the gap between the legislature and Industry 4.0. This article unpacks the South African legal position on cryptocurrencies within the context of the statutory powers and duties of insolvency practitioners. It engages in an analysis of selected international courts cases that have dealt with the concept of cryptocurrencies within the context of insolvent estates and continues to make recommendations for the development of an efficient and effective regulatory model.

scholarly journals South African universities in a time of increasing disruption

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Coetzee ◽  
Brownhilder Neneh ◽  
Karlien Stemmet ◽  
Jana Lamprecht ◽  
Constance Motsitsi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
African Students ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
South African Universities ◽  
The Impact

Background: The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have disrupted the higher education environment in unprecedented ways.Aim: This article identifies the impact of increasing disruption driven by the 4IR and COVID-19 on the content and curriculum design of degree programmes in economic and management sciences offered by South African universities.Setting: Six South African and five top-tier US and UK universities.Methods: The study used a non-positivist qualitative research design and specifically the case-study approach. A document analysis of the information in university yearbooks and prospectuses was conducted, using a purposive sampling design.Results: An online presence will become more important due to increased disruption, and will not only ensure an additional revenue stream, but also promote continuity in operations and mitigate threats from competitors. COVID-19 has accelerated the extent of this disruption and expedited the migration to online teaching and learning platforms.Conclusion: Since science, technology, engineering and mathematics are integral to the majority of 4IR-related modules, South African universities must not shy away from degree programmes that ignore inter- and multi-disciplinary curriculum designs. Coupled with the challenges facing the majority of South African students to access electronic devices, data and the internet, COVID-19 has thrust this challenge to the forefront in the South African higher education landscape. By comparing the developments in South African universities with those in trendsetting, top-tier, global universities, management can assess the extent to which they are internationally competitive and adapting to the demands of the 4IR.

scholarly journals The emergence of an education policy dispositif in South Africa: An analysis of educational discourses associated with the fourth industrial revolution

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aslam Fataar
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Research Association ◽  
The South ◽  
African Education ◽  
Generic Skills ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution ◽  
South African Education ◽  
The Impact

The notion of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) has recently entered the public and policy domain in South Africa. It has rapidly found resonance in policy discourse and the popular media. It has also entered the language of educational policy and institutions. The impact of 4IR on educational thinking and practice has hitherto not featured in academic discussion on education in South Africa except for a keynote plenary session at the annual conference of the South African Education Research Association (SAERA) in Durban (October 2019). The South African Education Deans Forum recently published a call for the submission of chapters for a book on teacher education, 4IR, and decolonisation. In this article, I develop an address that I delivered at the SAERA 2019 conference as part of the plenary panel. The article consists of four sections. The first offers a consideration of the entry of 4IR discourse into the educational imaginary. I suggest in this section that 4IR discourse has installed a socio-technical imaginary in South Africa's unequal educational dispensation. The second section concentrates on the construction of educational governance. Based on research on 4IR-related policy making, I discuss the policy directions taken by the Department of Higher Education and Training and the Department of Basic Education in giving effect to ways of engaging with 4IR in each of their domains. The third section features a discussion of the impact of technological disruption on society, the economy and education. The final section presents a discussion of the emerging educational architectures in the 4IR and a critical consideration of the curriculum and pedagogical dimensions of 4IR, which, I argue, are informed by an orientation that prioritises the acquisition of generic skills. Sidelining knowledge and concepts as central to the structuring of the curriculum, a generic skills approach succumbs to what might be called a knowledge blindness that holds pernicious consequences for epistemic access in South Africa.

Influence of Mall Shopping Culture on Online Shopping Preferences: An Emerging Economy Perspective using the Technology Acceptance Model

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Reshma John ◽  
Anita Dani
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Technology Acceptance Model ◽  
Online Shopping ◽  
Consumer Preference ◽  
Internet Technology ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Sample Data ◽  
Convenience Sampling ◽  
Acceptance Model ◽  
The Impact

Growth of e-commerce activities are keeping up pace with the rapid progress in the development and availability of internet. However, the availability of internet technology and its penetration does not automatically imply consumer preference of online shopping. This study aims to examine the factors influencing the decisions of consumers for engaging in online shopping in the context of UAE, and inquires whether the prevalence of mall culture has an impact on the online shopping adoption by consumers.  The Technology Acceptance Model (Davis 1989) was used to assess consumer perceptions and intentions towards online shopping. Data was collected through online surveys using convenience sampling method. From the analysis of sample data, there is sufficient evidence to conclude that online shopping is still not very popular in the UAE as residents prefer to do shopping in malls.  The findings of the study are relevant to the e-commerce retail entities operating in countries where the mall culture is an important influence in the retail scenario, as this will help them in formulating their strategy to accommodate the shopping preferences of both online and in-store customers.  The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is also considered on the objectives and findings of the study.

scholarly journals Students’ perception to integrate education 4.0 in Science program

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Siti Hajar Halili ◽  
Shukri Sulaiman
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Technology Acceptance Model ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Science Program ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Acceptance Model ◽  
Impact Of Technology ◽  
New Education ◽  
The Impact

<p align="justify">This study aims to explore students’ perception of integrating education 4.0 in the Science program. The technology acceptance model was used to determine students’ understanding of integrating education 4.0 focusing on the Science program. This research was conducted using a qualitative approach. The interview was used to collect the data. Five respondents among Science students were interviewed. They were undergraduate students pursue study in a science education program. The finding of the interview result showed that students had positive responses in integrating education 4.0 for technological sustainable development. The results of the study showed that students had a positive understanding of the three aspects namely, readiness in integrating education 4.0 for the Science program, the impact of technology facilities, and enhancing digital skills for employability. We recommend further research to evaluate the preparation or readiness of students to integrate training using technology 4.0. Based on the results, further research is proposed to take into account new education skills among Science students in line with the industrial revolution 4.0.</p>

scholarly journals Addressing the Impact of Fourth Industrial Revolution on South African Manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 11703
Author(s):  
John Mugambwa Serumaga-Zake ◽  
John Andrew van der Poll
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Developing Economy ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution ◽  
The Impact

The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) may fundamentally alter, not only the way people work but also, how Small and Medium (SME) manufacturing businesses operate. In the manufacturing sector, the 4IR may change the design; manufacturing; operations; services, products, and production systems; connectivity; and the interaction among parts, machines, and people. While the 4IR technologies may have many benefits, owing to innovation and technological progress, the manufacturing SMEs require their challenges to be addressed before they may benefit from 4IR technologies. To the best of the knowledge of the researchers, there is no conceptual 4IR manufacturing framework, specifically for a developing economy, which is necessary for addressing these challenges and the opportunities promised by the new industry. This research, therefore, intends to fill this gap by developing a conceptual 4IR framework to assist South African manufacturing SMEs in addressing some of these challenges. Following a comprehensive literature review, components of the 4IR and challenges in the manufacturing industry are elucidated, aimed at defining a set of qualitative propositions as our instrument to develop a conceptual framework for embedding 4IR technologies and opportunities in the manufacturing industry. Further aspects of the framework enable businesses to gain a competitive advantage and sustainable business performance. Future work in this area will validate the framework among stakeholders in the manufacturing industry within the context of a developing economy.

Artificial Intelligence in Aircraft Docking: The Fear of Reducing Ground Marshalling Jobs to Robots and Way-Out

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-32
Author(s):  
Adeniran, Adetayo Olaniyi ◽  
Kanyio, Olufunto Adedotun
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Expert System ◽  
Expert Systems ◽  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Technology Acceptance Model ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Air Transportation ◽  
Attitude Theory ◽  
Acceptance Model ◽  
The Impact

This study gaudily examines the impact of Artificial Intelligence on aircraft docking, and technophobia that may arise on the part of ground marshallers. Ground marshallers are ground personnel that signal or communicate visually to pilots when docking the aircraft in an airport. Artificial Intelligence is an expert system which can be incorporated in different areas, such as finance, transportation, aviation, and tele-communications. Attitude theory and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) were used to establish the acceptance of Artificial Intelligence. It should be noted that expert systems make decisions which requires human level of expertise. In order to reduce the fear that technology will replace the jobs of human in the field of air transportation particularly with aircraft docking, it is crucial for airport personnel to embrace the upcoming revolution by developing themselves as regard Artificial Intelligence; Universities should prepare the transport students to face the upcoming reality. Also various organizations should put in place necessary resources needed to be part of this revolution which will be fully achieved in the fourth indus-trial revolution and the fifth industrial revolution.

scholarly journals Adoption and Use of Discovery Tools by Selected Academic Libraries in Zimbabwe

2016 ◽  
pp. 168-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sindiso Bhebhe ◽  
Similo Ngwenya
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Multiple Case Study ◽  
Software Packages ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Acceptance Model ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Selection Of

The chapter discusses the adoption and use of e-discovery tools by three selected academic libraries in Zimbabwe. Through the use of a multiple case study a study was carried out to identify factors that led to the adoption and use of discovery tools by the three selected academic libraries. The study sought to find out the reasoning behind the selection of e-discovery tools, to assess the challenges and opportunities met in the use of e-discovery tools and to evaluate the impact brought about by the use of discovery tools. The study drew its theoretical framework from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) (Davis, 1989). The TAM best explains the adoption of numerous technologies ranging from software packages to various online services. Some of the findings revealed that all the three libraries chose to use the EBSCO discovery tools even though it is expensive for them.

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