scholarly journals SUNSAT: South Africa’s first satellite in space

2002 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 90-100
Author(s):  
A. Schoonwinkel ◽  
G. W. Milne ◽  
J. J. Du Plessis ◽  
S. Mostert
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Space Physics ◽  
Development Programme ◽  
Development Phase ◽  
Radio Communications ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Satellite Technology ◽  
Awareness Programme ◽  
Physics Experiments

The SUNSAT satellite was conducted as a research and development programme at Stellenbosch University from 1992 till 2001. It obtained new technology for South Africa and set new performance levels internationally with regard to micro-satellites. SUNSAT also supported amateur radio communications internationally, as well as space physics experiments. During the development phase more than 100 postgraduate students based their theses on SUNSAT, and a supplementary science awareness programme reached more than 50 000 learners. This article provides an overview of the satellite configuration and concludes with a vision for satellite technology in South Africa.

Tradition and Innovation in Cataloguing Medieval Manuscripts

2021 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-58
Author(s):  
Orietta Da Rold
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Digital Environment ◽  
Digital Form ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Medieval Manuscripts ◽  
Early Career Researchers ◽  
History Of ◽  
And Training

Abstract In this essay, I offer a brief history of manuscript cataloguing and some observations on the innovations this practice introduced especially in the digital form. This history reveals that as the cataloguing of medieval manuscripts developed over time, so did the research needs it served. What was often considered traditional cataloguing practices had to be mediated to accommodate new scholarly advance, posing interesting questions, for example, on what new technologies can bring to this discussion. In the digital age, in particular, how do digital catalogues interact with their analogue counterparts? What skills and training are required of scholars interacting with this new technology? To this end, I will consider the importance of the digital environment to enable a more flexible approach to cataloguing. I will also discuss new insights into digital projects, especially the experience accrued by the The Production and Use of English Manuscripts 1060 to 1220 Project, and then propose that in the future cataloguing should be adaptable and shareable, and make full use of the different approaches to manuscripts generated by collaboration between scholars and librarians or the work of postgraduate students and early career researchers.

South Africa in the Installation Phase of a New Techno-economic Paradigm

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-250
Author(s):  
Peter Stewart
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Financial Sector ◽  
Economic Paradigm ◽  
Service Sectors ◽  
Informational Economy

Abstract South Africa’s situation of financialization, low growth, unemployment, and inequality is linked here to the ‘installation phase’ of a new technology as described by Carlotta Perez. South Africa’s informational economy is examined, and the role of the financial sector is summarized. The article then considers the strengths and weaknesses of the manufacturing and service sectors, and the embeddedness in them of digital technologies. The article concludes by supporting manufacturing as the best route to a new productive economic core while other sites of digital industry take deeper root. The need to shape finance to more national ends is also affirmed.

scholarly journals Rural Development within the Context of Development, Sustainability and Rural Issues – Some Constitutional, Policy and Implementation Perspectives

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Nic Olivier ◽  
Carin Van Zyl
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Development ◽  
South African ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Development Programme ◽  
Sustainable Rural Development ◽  
Rural Development Programme ◽  
Law And Policy ◽  
The People ◽  
The Republic

This article provides an overview of some developments, internationally, regionally and in the SADC, in relation to development, that may be expected to influence the South African government’s response to the development needs of the people in the country.  An overview is provided of the somewhat haphazard way in which the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 refers to the need for and objective of development (including rural development) in the country.  Through their explanatory outline of three distinct phases in South African rural development law and policy: 1994–2000 (the Reconstruction and Development Programme and related documents and their implementation); 2000–April 2009 (the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Strategy and its implementation) and April 2009+ (the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme and related documents), the authors review some of the historical strengths and future prospects related to rural development in South Africa.  Based on an assessment of historical trends, a number of recommendations are made for government’s way forward in the implementation of the constitutional objectives, law and policy relevant to rural development in the country.

scholarly journals Academics Perceptions of Electronic Resources at the University of Venda, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 424-428
Author(s):  
Alugumi Samuel Ndou ◽  
Wanyenda Leonard Chilimo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Public Access ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Plagiarism Detection ◽  
Electronic Resources ◽  
Federated Search ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
The University ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

This study examined the perceptions of academic researchers regarding electronic resources (e-resources) provided by the library at the University of Venda (UNIVEN), South Africa. The quantitative research approach and survey research design were adopted to conduct the investigation. Data was collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire randomly distributed to 45 UNIVEN academics. The findings of this study revealed that although academics at UNIVEN find e-resources easy to use, believe the resources improve academic performance, and frequently encouraged postgraduate students to use them, the majority of them had plagiarism concerns and were only moderately satisfied with available e-resources at UNIVEN. This study recommends that the university library should train academics on plagiarism detection. In addition, the library should adopt innovative ways of improving e-resource services, such as providing an Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) with advanced and federated search capabilities.

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.

Sexual and Reproductive Health knowledge of Postgraduate Students at the University of Cape Town, in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bupe Mwamba ◽  
Pat Mayers ◽  
Jawaya Shea
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Pap Smear ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Breast Examination ◽  
The University

Abstract BackgroundGlobally and in South Africa, university students’ knowledge of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is low. This study was conducted in response to the dearth of information about the sexual and reproductive health knowledge of postgraduate students. Research conducted to explore the SRH knowledge of undergraduate students suggests that the level of SRH knowledge among undergraduate students is low. The aim of this study was to determine the SRH knowledge of postgraduate students with regards to contraceptives, sexually transmitted illnesses (STI), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Pap smear and clinical breast examination at University of Cape Town (UCT), in South Africa. MethodA cross sectional survey design was utilized, using an adapted and pretested online questionnaire. All postgraduate students enrolled in the first semester of 2017 (9444) were invited to anonymously complete the online survey.ResultsFour hundred and six (406) students completed the online survey, of whom 293 were female and 107 males. The age range of respondents was between 18 years and 57 years, with the median age for both male and female respondents being 24 years. Six survey responses were excluded from the statistical analysis because of incomplete data. Post graduate students from the African continent comprised 90.75% of the respondents. Most respondents were white (51.50%) from both Africa and abroad. The results indicated that respondents knew about sexually transmitted infections, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) & acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Female respondents were more aware of breast examination, and the role of Papanicolaou smear (Pap smear) in SRH. Almost half of the respondents in this study (49%) stated that they had no need for more information about contraceptives. Lecturers were identified as one of the top five sources of information, which suggests that the university environment provides students with important SRH-related information.ConclusionMost postgraduate students had knowledge of sexual and reproductive health with regards to contraception, Pap smear, clinical breast examination, STIs, HIV and AIDS. Further research should focus on the relationship between SRH knowledge and usage among this population. As university lecturers were identified as an important source of information across faculties, the University should consider the incorporation of SRH education in the broader curriculum and as an integral component of student health services.

Factors affecting the information-seeking behaviour of postgraduate students at the University of South Africa Ethiopia Regional Learning Centre

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Addisalem Gebrekidan Desta ◽  
Madely du Preez ◽  
Patrick Ngulube
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Electronic Information ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour ◽  
The University

The purpose of this study was to investigate some of the factors affecting the information-seeking behaviour of postgraduate students registered at the University of South Africa (Unisa) as represented by its Ethiopia Regional Learning Centre, with particular emphasis on their use of electronic information resources. A qualitative case study approach was adopted. In semi-structured interviews, eight conveniently selected postgraduate students shared their information-seeking experiences. The data was analysed thematically. The findings identified contextual and personal factors which gave rise to the respondents’ information needs and in turn prompted information activities such as information seeking. Of these, a lack of ICT infrastructure, frequent interruptions in electricity supply, old computers and the location of the Akaki Branch Library proved to be the main factors affecting postgraduate students’ electronic information-seeking behaviour. The findings showed the effect that inadequate facilities have on postgraduate students’ information behaviour.

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