Commercial maritime higher education needs in South Africa
- Authors: Allison, Lee-Ann
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Marine resources
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/47496 , vital:40117
- Description: Seaborne cargo trade accounts for over 80% of the physical volume of global trade. Maritime transport thus fulfills an integral function in the economy of the world. South Africa generates approximately 3.5% of the world’s seaborne trade by value and 1.61% by tonnage, but the business of shipping all that cargo is undertaken by foreign firms. Operation Phakisa, the Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy, and the South African Maritime Road Map, in pursuance of the National Development Plan, aim to revive the commercial maritime sector. In order to meet the demand for the skills and innovative abilities sought at executive and managerial levels in the commercial maritime sector, higher education in the knowledge of maritime business is increasingly becoming a prerequisite. Investment in higher education of quality and relevance in the maritime field would contribute to achieving the goals of the government for harnessing the potential of South Africa’s blue economy. The literature is researched in order to establish an authoritative view that the knowledge and the inspiration for entrepreneurial activity in the maritime sector can be imparted through higher education; and for example, that a viable shipping sector can contribute to the growth of a country’s economy. The South African maritime sector is then described. The commercial maritime higher education available at universities and other institutions of higher learning in South Africa, as well as in other African countries and elsewhere in the world, is examined, in order to be able to identify the degree and diploma courses available. Maritime courses imply not only the content of the educational material, but also the method whereby the knowledge is instilled in learners, and which extends well beyond the classroom. A survey, by way of the personal interviews of leaders in maritime business, maritime government affairs, and academics teaching maritime topics, is then undertaken to ascertain their views on the education required to promote the maritime sector in South Africa, using the list of subjects available for study worldwide, to assist their choice. The literature research and the interview survey by design also enable the secondary aims of the study to be achieved. Those aims include determining how awareness of the maritime domain could be raised and how co-operation between academia, business, and government, known as the triple helix could be organized, to promote the growth of the maritime sector. The results of the survey are analyzed and tabulated, in order to illustrate the extent of the agreement between those interviewed and the conclusions reached. These conclusions establish: (i) that the commercial maritime education currently available in South Africa, is inadequate to meet the aim of the government to the sector; (ii) that a post-graduate degree iv in the specified maritime studies incorporating a period of internship, and following on the first degree in business subjects, is required; (iii) that a triple helix of co-operation between academia, business, and the government is essential to grow the commercial maritime sector in which South African entrepreneurs educated in such business will have the advantage; (iv) that greater awareness of the maritime domain is essential in South Africa if entrepreneurship in maritime business is to be cultivated; and (v)that such awareness can be cultivated in various ways; but it should start by including more maritime topics in the current school curricula.
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- Date Issued: 2020
A sustainable industrialisation model for the ocean economy of South Africa
- Authors: Williams, Mark
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Marine resources , Shipping -- Economic aspects Marine terminals -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44401 , vital:37164
- Description: South African role players recognise that when truly exploited and well-managed, the South African ocean economy can constitute a source of wealth and significantly increase South Africa’s fortunes and, by doing so, contribute towards the increased economic growth, employment growth and ultimately the development of South Africa. However, as a result of the multi-dimensional and complex nature of ocean economic systems, role players in South Africa faced the problem of identifying the factors that influence the success of sustainable industrialisation of the ocean economy of South Africa. The aim of this research was to contribute to the promotion and sustainable development of the ocean economy of South Africa, in an effort to address the challenge mentioned above. In order to achieve this aim, the objective was to develop and test a conceptual theoretical model which will assist industrialists and other role players in South Africa to increase their economic activities sustainably in the ocean economy. Evidence from this research indicated that if the factors influencing the industrialisation of the ocean economy could be identified, assessed and recommendations could be made which may contribute to the promotion and sustainable development of the ocean economy of South Africa. The focus of the literature study was firstly on the global perspective of the marine industry, particularly how nations around the world are involved in the various components of the ocean economy and the challenges, as well as issues, the world confronts in respect of the marine industry and secondly, to give consideration to global solutions that are relevant for South Africa. The research effort, furthermore, explored South Africa’s legislative, policy and other consideration that has a direct impact on the ocean economy. The literature study on both global and South African perspectives of ocean economies found ten major variables that influence the sustainability of the industrialisation of the ocean economy of South Africa. These variables include one intervening variable, infrastructure development as well as nine independent variables namely demand planning, strategic partnering, knowledge management, access to finance, institutional environment, value-chain integration, resource management, regulatory environment, and innovation. All variables were hypothesised as they were perceived to positively influence the dependent variable namely: the perceived success of sustainable industrialisation of the ocean economy of South Africa The influencing factors, defined and operationalised, were then structured in a questionnaire which was sent randomly to specialists in the ocean economies around the world. Data was collected from 246 respondents and subjected to various statistical analysis techniques. Firstly, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted to assess the discriminant validity of the research instrument. Secondly, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were calculated for each of the identified factors to confirm the reliability of the research instrument. The significance of the hypothesised relationships in the revised model was then tested by using the statistical technique known as Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The key contribution of this research to the South Africa’s ocean economy body of knowledge is as follows: The research into the contributing factors which influence the success of sustainable industrialisation of the ocean economy of South Africa, The development of a theoretical model for the industrialisation of the ocean economy of South Africa that can be used by role players in South Africa to promote economic activities sustainably in the ocean economy, The research investigated the ocean economy ecosystem, the global economic exploitation of the ocean and issues and challenges surrounding such exploitation, Consider South Africa’s own efforts at economic exploitation of the ocean and the issues and challenges surrounding such exploitation. Findings and recommendations on empirically accessed factors which significantly affect the likelihood of the sustainable development of the ocean economy of South Africa. In conclusion, the theoretical model and operational recommendations that are offered in this research do serve as a useful guideline as to what the key success factors are that will influence the sustainable industrialisation of the ocean economy of South Africa.
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- Date Issued: 2019