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A narrative study of students’ and staff’s experiences of living with HIV and AIDS at Rhodes University
- Authors: Tsope, Lindiwe
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Makhanda , HIV infections -- South Africa -- Makhanda , College students -- Health and hygiene -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Universities and colleges -- South Africa -- Makhanda -- Employees -- Health and hygiene , Stigma (Social psychology) , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Makhanda , HIV infections -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Makhanda , AIDS (Disease) -- Psychological aspects , HIV infections -- Psychological aspects , Health counseling -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Discourse analysis, Narrative
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176894 , vital:42769 , 10.21504/10962/176894
- Description: A narrative study of students’ and staff’s experiences of living with HIV and AIDS at Rhodes University Research on HIV and AIDS in university settings, especially research exploring the experience of living with the disease, has been minimal. As a response to the knowledge and research gaps, this thesis is a qualitative study involving students and staff living with HIV (LWH) and accessing treatment (ART) at the Rhodes University Health Care Centre. This study explored the personal and social symbolisms as well as meanings attached to living with HIV, through in-depth interviews with ten students and staff living with HIV, all purposively sampled and recruited through the Rhodes University Health Care Centre. Using social constructionism, symbolic interactionism and the theory of biographical disruption, the narratives revealed a positive and inspirational side of living with HIV and AIDS – especially emphasizing that PLWHA do not have to surrender to the deadly narrative of the disease. It became evident that stigma, both internal and external, largely influences illness narratives. Furthermore, the study revealed the social reconstruction of life narratives both in order to understand the illness in terms of past social experiences and to reaffirm the impression that life has a course and the self has a purpose. All participants found that accessing treatment from the Rhodes University Health Care Centre positively influenced their experiences of adherence and reconstruction of narratives. The study indicates that HIV-related interventions in place at the university need to pay more attention to the psychosocial needs of PLWH, involvement of PWLH, as well as keeping up with the continuously changing global HIV narrative. The study argues for more attention to in-depth experiences and personal narratives in HIV and AIDS, and PLWHA education at Rhodes University. , Thesis (PhD) -- Humanities, Department of Sociology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Tsope, Lindiwe
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Makhanda , HIV infections -- South Africa -- Makhanda , College students -- Health and hygiene -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Universities and colleges -- South Africa -- Makhanda -- Employees -- Health and hygiene , Stigma (Social psychology) , AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Makhanda , HIV infections -- Social aspects -- South Africa -- Makhanda , AIDS (Disease) -- Psychological aspects , HIV infections -- Psychological aspects , Health counseling -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Discourse analysis, Narrative
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176894 , vital:42769 , 10.21504/10962/176894
- Description: A narrative study of students’ and staff’s experiences of living with HIV and AIDS at Rhodes University Research on HIV and AIDS in university settings, especially research exploring the experience of living with the disease, has been minimal. As a response to the knowledge and research gaps, this thesis is a qualitative study involving students and staff living with HIV (LWH) and accessing treatment (ART) at the Rhodes University Health Care Centre. This study explored the personal and social symbolisms as well as meanings attached to living with HIV, through in-depth interviews with ten students and staff living with HIV, all purposively sampled and recruited through the Rhodes University Health Care Centre. Using social constructionism, symbolic interactionism and the theory of biographical disruption, the narratives revealed a positive and inspirational side of living with HIV and AIDS – especially emphasizing that PLWHA do not have to surrender to the deadly narrative of the disease. It became evident that stigma, both internal and external, largely influences illness narratives. Furthermore, the study revealed the social reconstruction of life narratives both in order to understand the illness in terms of past social experiences and to reaffirm the impression that life has a course and the self has a purpose. All participants found that accessing treatment from the Rhodes University Health Care Centre positively influenced their experiences of adherence and reconstruction of narratives. The study indicates that HIV-related interventions in place at the university need to pay more attention to the psychosocial needs of PLWH, involvement of PWLH, as well as keeping up with the continuously changing global HIV narrative. The study argues for more attention to in-depth experiences and personal narratives in HIV and AIDS, and PLWHA education at Rhodes University. , Thesis (PhD) -- Humanities, Department of Sociology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
A novel Arf GTPase assay for antimalarial drug discovery
- Authors: Swart, Tarryn
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178558 , vital:42950
- Description: Access restricted until April 2022. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Swart, Tarryn
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178558 , vital:42950
- Description: Access restricted until April 2022. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
A problematisation of Afrikaner identity subject positions as found in the coverage of contemporary Afrikaans music in HUISGENOOT magazine discourse
- Authors: Hughes, Lestie
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Afrikaners -- South Africa -- Music -- History and criticism , Multimedia (Art)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52558 , vital:43686
- Description: Through the lens of Foucauldian genealogy, this thesis problematises the subject positions towards Afrikaner identity reflected in contemporary Afrikaans songs covered by Huisgenoot magazine. Such a genealogical exploration thematises the games of truth underpinning the formation of Huisgenoot, highlights its role in solidifying white Afrikaner Nationalist discourse of apartheid, observes its more populist, profit-oriented approach from the 1970s onwards and considers the residual echoing of its former discursive orientation. The song analysis of selected Afrikaans songs/music videos covered in Huisgenoot is guided by the semiotics of Nicholas Cook, such that it frames the analytical question of how such music is driven by conformance, contest and complementation between multi-media elements in ways that make meaning possible. Accordingly, this methodology resonates with the non-essentialising focus of Foucauldian problematisation, premised on critical resistance that makes new responses simultaneously possible. The self-reflexive autoethnographical approach employed, entailing the author’s dialogical engagement with her own ‘Afrikaner self’, similarly facilitates the dynamic interplay between multiplicities. Correlatively, on the one hand, more ‘closed’ and more ‘open’ Afrikaner identity positions reflected within the songs are analysed, as well as seemingly ‘reconciliatory’ / collaborative’ musical manifestations which ultimately revert back to more ‘closed’ identity constructs. But on the other hand, observation of adherence to a ‘white-black’ dichotomy within songs that manifest more ‘closed’ identity positions also leads to consideration of the parallels between the goals of white Afrikaner Nationalism and the current Decolonisation narrative, which is informed by Black Consciousness thought and generated by the ‘Colonisation of a Special Kind’ ANC policy. Both such Decolonisation rhetoric and the countering rhetoric of the Neo-Afrikaner Protest Movement (NAP) are thus identified as metanarratives, underpinned by a ‘white-black’ dichotomy. In this regard, while Huisgenoot’s predisposition towards songs manifesting more ‘closed’ Afrikaner identity positions is considered in terms of its aforementioned profit-oriented endeavour to appeal to its ostensible primary readership, an encouraging increase in coverage of coloured artists is both noted and occasionally seen to overlap with its coverage of songs manifesting more ‘open’ Afrikaner identity positions. Among the latter one may – again in Foucauldian terms – differentiate between songs focussed on an engagement in cross-cultural relations of power, and songs intent on shattering states of domination of power blocks, often through shocking juxtaposition of disparate elements. These more violently dismantling endeavours, it is argued, comprise examples of Foucauldian transversal struggles, although their coverage in Huisgenoot is also attributed to their shock value and/or record sales, rather than their transformational potential. Furthermore, such Huisgenoot coverage is also seen to place more transformationally oriented artists at risk of media ‘domestication’, with its concomitant inhibiting of creativity. Finally, the researcher’s commitment to creative problematisation of her own Afrikaner identity, coupled with acknowledgement of her inescapable textual entrapment, culminates in her acceptance of the continual flux characterising dialogical power relations, before she – in accordance with the Foucauldian methodology employed – presents all ‘conclusions’ in a non-dictatorial spirit of ‘truth creation’, desirous of continual self/other dialogue. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Hughes, Lestie
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Afrikaners -- South Africa -- Music -- History and criticism , Multimedia (Art)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52558 , vital:43686
- Description: Through the lens of Foucauldian genealogy, this thesis problematises the subject positions towards Afrikaner identity reflected in contemporary Afrikaans songs covered by Huisgenoot magazine. Such a genealogical exploration thematises the games of truth underpinning the formation of Huisgenoot, highlights its role in solidifying white Afrikaner Nationalist discourse of apartheid, observes its more populist, profit-oriented approach from the 1970s onwards and considers the residual echoing of its former discursive orientation. The song analysis of selected Afrikaans songs/music videos covered in Huisgenoot is guided by the semiotics of Nicholas Cook, such that it frames the analytical question of how such music is driven by conformance, contest and complementation between multi-media elements in ways that make meaning possible. Accordingly, this methodology resonates with the non-essentialising focus of Foucauldian problematisation, premised on critical resistance that makes new responses simultaneously possible. The self-reflexive autoethnographical approach employed, entailing the author’s dialogical engagement with her own ‘Afrikaner self’, similarly facilitates the dynamic interplay between multiplicities. Correlatively, on the one hand, more ‘closed’ and more ‘open’ Afrikaner identity positions reflected within the songs are analysed, as well as seemingly ‘reconciliatory’ / collaborative’ musical manifestations which ultimately revert back to more ‘closed’ identity constructs. But on the other hand, observation of adherence to a ‘white-black’ dichotomy within songs that manifest more ‘closed’ identity positions also leads to consideration of the parallels between the goals of white Afrikaner Nationalism and the current Decolonisation narrative, which is informed by Black Consciousness thought and generated by the ‘Colonisation of a Special Kind’ ANC policy. Both such Decolonisation rhetoric and the countering rhetoric of the Neo-Afrikaner Protest Movement (NAP) are thus identified as metanarratives, underpinned by a ‘white-black’ dichotomy. In this regard, while Huisgenoot’s predisposition towards songs manifesting more ‘closed’ Afrikaner identity positions is considered in terms of its aforementioned profit-oriented endeavour to appeal to its ostensible primary readership, an encouraging increase in coverage of coloured artists is both noted and occasionally seen to overlap with its coverage of songs manifesting more ‘open’ Afrikaner identity positions. Among the latter one may – again in Foucauldian terms – differentiate between songs focussed on an engagement in cross-cultural relations of power, and songs intent on shattering states of domination of power blocks, often through shocking juxtaposition of disparate elements. These more violently dismantling endeavours, it is argued, comprise examples of Foucauldian transversal struggles, although their coverage in Huisgenoot is also attributed to their shock value and/or record sales, rather than their transformational potential. Furthermore, such Huisgenoot coverage is also seen to place more transformationally oriented artists at risk of media ‘domestication’, with its concomitant inhibiting of creativity. Finally, the researcher’s commitment to creative problematisation of her own Afrikaner identity, coupled with acknowledgement of her inescapable textual entrapment, culminates in her acceptance of the continual flux characterising dialogical power relations, before she – in accordance with the Foucauldian methodology employed – presents all ‘conclusions’ in a non-dictatorial spirit of ‘truth creation’, desirous of continual self/other dialogue. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
A project delivery framework within the Construction Industry
- Authors: Chikandiwa,Yeaukai Memory
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Construction --Management -- South Africa , Project Management , Communication
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52594 , vital:43692
- Description: A lack of effective communication has often resulted in information bottlenecks and conflicts in the execution of construction projects and is the primary cause of problems such as delays, increased project cost, reduced roductivity, loss of profit, or damaged professional or business relationships within the construction Industry. Despite all the advancement in the communication and integration tools in a drive to optimize the construction industry, this challenge still remains. In order to address this problem, this research project sought to determine the key elements that constitute effective communication and its importance to the successful projects delivery within the construction industry. A survey design which involved a sample study of a representative population through the use of a questionnaire was used. The research population comprised of all design consultants. The research found that, Common tools and processes, Good change management, PM best practices & Performance KPIs and resources are the main missing elements respectively for effective communication, which foster the conflicts inherent within the industry. The following key factors are however mostly present in project team; well-articulated project scope, quality information exchange and commendable people, cultures and behaviour. Informational asymmetries, misrepresentation, poor PM skills hinders effective communication and often results in project failure. There is therefore need to concertize the design professionals on the importance of effective communication and enlighten them on the dynamics involved. The construction industry is inherently complex, multi-disciplinary, fragmented, sporadic, dynamic and generally resistant to change. Hence, the need for rigorous research and feed back to the design professionals on effective communication especially during the changing times driven by technology, dubbed the 4th revolution. More work is to be done in order to achieve the effective communication, in the following study research area for the construction industry; the alignment of tools and processes, change management and Performance KPIs for the construction industry. These factors present a huge challenge in a fragmented and adversarial industry which is inherently resistant to change. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Engineering,the Built Environment and Information technology,2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Chikandiwa,Yeaukai Memory
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Construction --Management -- South Africa , Project Management , Communication
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52594 , vital:43692
- Description: A lack of effective communication has often resulted in information bottlenecks and conflicts in the execution of construction projects and is the primary cause of problems such as delays, increased project cost, reduced roductivity, loss of profit, or damaged professional or business relationships within the construction Industry. Despite all the advancement in the communication and integration tools in a drive to optimize the construction industry, this challenge still remains. In order to address this problem, this research project sought to determine the key elements that constitute effective communication and its importance to the successful projects delivery within the construction industry. A survey design which involved a sample study of a representative population through the use of a questionnaire was used. The research population comprised of all design consultants. The research found that, Common tools and processes, Good change management, PM best practices & Performance KPIs and resources are the main missing elements respectively for effective communication, which foster the conflicts inherent within the industry. The following key factors are however mostly present in project team; well-articulated project scope, quality information exchange and commendable people, cultures and behaviour. Informational asymmetries, misrepresentation, poor PM skills hinders effective communication and often results in project failure. There is therefore need to concertize the design professionals on the importance of effective communication and enlighten them on the dynamics involved. The construction industry is inherently complex, multi-disciplinary, fragmented, sporadic, dynamic and generally resistant to change. Hence, the need for rigorous research and feed back to the design professionals on effective communication especially during the changing times driven by technology, dubbed the 4th revolution. More work is to be done in order to achieve the effective communication, in the following study research area for the construction industry; the alignment of tools and processes, change management and Performance KPIs for the construction industry. These factors present a huge challenge in a fragmented and adversarial industry which is inherently resistant to change. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Engineering,the Built Environment and Information technology,2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
A proposed framework for the development of urban agriculture in South African cities
- Authors: Brown, Nicola Jayne
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Urban agriculture -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa , Food security -- Climatic factors -- South Africa , Resilience (Ecology)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174413 , vital:42475
- Description: While climate change and rapid urbanisation are impacting our cities and existing infrastructure, population growth and resource scarcity are placing unprecedented pressure on our food systems. In light of such challenges and the Sustainable Development Goals, resilient solutions are being sought to move both urban development and food production towards a more sustainable future. In this context, Urban Agriculture (UA) has been identified as a possible mechanism to complement rural food production with many associated social, economic and environmental benefits for urban communities. Some of these benefits include increased food system resilience, better urban environmental management, circular and productive reuse of urban wastes, employment opportunities, reduced food miles and the promotion of social inclusivity. Through a sustainable food system lens and underpinned by Resilience Theory, this research study sets out to investigate and explore the considerations for UA development. The research study reviews UA literature to identify and analyse the common challenges which act as barriers to implementation, as well as the current or potential opportunities which could be leveraged to drive UA development. The insights gained from literature on UA and UA development frameworks; and the data gathered from qualitative interviews with experts working in UA-related fields in South Africa (SA), were used to build a conceptual framework for UA development in SA. The conceptual framework developed is intended to be used as a guide for local municipalities, urban planners, urban farmers, urban communities and UA support organisations in their approach to developing UA initiatives. The findings from this research study reveal that UA development in SA involves numerous actors at both provincial and municipal levels; and within private institutions, businesses, universities, farmer organisations and society. The findings also reveal that UA currently occurs at many levels in SA, with each level drawing a particular range of participants due to the various social, economic and/or environmental features of the initiative. Along with challenges associated with land access, the lack of UA-related knowledge, the threat of theft, vandalism and soil contamination (to name a few); a lack of understanding of how agriculture can fit into urban spaces was found to be a major obstacle. The findings suggest that this lack of understanding has led to an under-realisation of the full potential of UA in South African towns and cities; and an inability to incentivise and optimise the development of UA. Considering the findings derived from the investigation, the study proposes five major considerations for UA development in SA, all of which are unpacked in the conceptual framework. The study concludes by making recommendations for UA decision-makers and UA organisations to consider for future developments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Brown, Nicola Jayne
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Urban agriculture -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- South Africa , Food security -- Climatic factors -- South Africa , Resilience (Ecology)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174413 , vital:42475
- Description: While climate change and rapid urbanisation are impacting our cities and existing infrastructure, population growth and resource scarcity are placing unprecedented pressure on our food systems. In light of such challenges and the Sustainable Development Goals, resilient solutions are being sought to move both urban development and food production towards a more sustainable future. In this context, Urban Agriculture (UA) has been identified as a possible mechanism to complement rural food production with many associated social, economic and environmental benefits for urban communities. Some of these benefits include increased food system resilience, better urban environmental management, circular and productive reuse of urban wastes, employment opportunities, reduced food miles and the promotion of social inclusivity. Through a sustainable food system lens and underpinned by Resilience Theory, this research study sets out to investigate and explore the considerations for UA development. The research study reviews UA literature to identify and analyse the common challenges which act as barriers to implementation, as well as the current or potential opportunities which could be leveraged to drive UA development. The insights gained from literature on UA and UA development frameworks; and the data gathered from qualitative interviews with experts working in UA-related fields in South Africa (SA), were used to build a conceptual framework for UA development in SA. The conceptual framework developed is intended to be used as a guide for local municipalities, urban planners, urban farmers, urban communities and UA support organisations in their approach to developing UA initiatives. The findings from this research study reveal that UA development in SA involves numerous actors at both provincial and municipal levels; and within private institutions, businesses, universities, farmer organisations and society. The findings also reveal that UA currently occurs at many levels in SA, with each level drawing a particular range of participants due to the various social, economic and/or environmental features of the initiative. Along with challenges associated with land access, the lack of UA-related knowledge, the threat of theft, vandalism and soil contamination (to name a few); a lack of understanding of how agriculture can fit into urban spaces was found to be a major obstacle. The findings suggest that this lack of understanding has led to an under-realisation of the full potential of UA in South African towns and cities; and an inability to incentivise and optimise the development of UA. Considering the findings derived from the investigation, the study proposes five major considerations for UA development in SA, all of which are unpacked in the conceptual framework. The study concludes by making recommendations for UA decision-makers and UA organisations to consider for future developments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
A Psychobiographical Study of Charles Manson
- Authors: Flatela, Sambesiwe
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Psychology -- Biographical methods , Personality development -- Psychological aspects , Criminals -- United States -- Biography
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51021 , vital:43201
- Description: Charles Manson was notorious for his antisocial behaviour and influence; through his charisma, he formed a group of followers known as the Manson family. Manson and his followers became involved in various criminal activities which culminated in the murder of 7 people. These murders were not committed by Manson per say, but he planned them, and incited his followers to commit them; this resulted in a trial and Manson going to prison, being given a life sentence. He continued to influence people while he served his sentence in prison. Manson died of natural causes in November 2017. The research study explores and describes the life of Manson in the form of a psychobiography. The aim of the study was to gain insight into the personality development of Charles Manson. This was achieved by applying Otto Kernberg’s Object Relations Theory to Manson’s known life experiences. Various data was collected and triangulated, using primary and secondary sources. Miles, Huberman, and Saldana’s (2013) three step procedure was used to analyse the data. The findings highlight the influence of genetics and rejection as pivotal to the unfolding of Manson’s personality, and provide insight into how his antisocial patterns unfolded. They highlight, in particular, his use of control, dominance and devaluation to protect his positive experience of self. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Psychology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Flatela, Sambesiwe
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Psychology -- Biographical methods , Personality development -- Psychological aspects , Criminals -- United States -- Biography
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51021 , vital:43201
- Description: Charles Manson was notorious for his antisocial behaviour and influence; through his charisma, he formed a group of followers known as the Manson family. Manson and his followers became involved in various criminal activities which culminated in the murder of 7 people. These murders were not committed by Manson per say, but he planned them, and incited his followers to commit them; this resulted in a trial and Manson going to prison, being given a life sentence. He continued to influence people while he served his sentence in prison. Manson died of natural causes in November 2017. The research study explores and describes the life of Manson in the form of a psychobiography. The aim of the study was to gain insight into the personality development of Charles Manson. This was achieved by applying Otto Kernberg’s Object Relations Theory to Manson’s known life experiences. Various data was collected and triangulated, using primary and secondary sources. Miles, Huberman, and Saldana’s (2013) three step procedure was used to analyse the data. The findings highlight the influence of genetics and rejection as pivotal to the unfolding of Manson’s personality, and provide insight into how his antisocial patterns unfolded. They highlight, in particular, his use of control, dominance and devaluation to protect his positive experience of self. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Psychology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
A psychobiographical study of Gavin Maxwell: a Kernberg object relations approach
- Authors: Walters, Jacqueline
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Personality development -- Psychological aspects , Psychology -- Biographical methods
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52363 , vital:43619
- Description: Gavin Maxwell was an author and naturalist. He published a memoir called A Ring of Bright Water, which shaped the way millions of readers viewed nature. Maxwell wrote simple prose which paints an idyllic and moving picture of his time spent in his “lost paradise”, alongside his beloved animals, most notably his otters. However, in reality Maxwell was a man in conflict, seen in volatile relationships, financial recklessness, and the preference for the company of animals over people. The aim of this study was to explore Maxwell’s life to gain insight into his personality development. This was achieved by applying Otto Kernberg’s Object Relations Theory to his life experiences. In doing so the author hoped to gain an understanding of the personality dynamics that led to Maxwell’s relational difficulties and eccentricities. Data was collected by triangulating multiple sources of information on his life. Miles and Huberman’s (1994) three step approach was used to analyse data collected. These steps are: data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. The research study found that Maxwell’s personality development was likely arrested at the third stage of Kernberg’s model. Maxwell relied primarily on immature defence mechanisms based in splitting and possessed a fragile ego structure which he protected through grandiosity. The findings indicated that Maxwell’s personality falls in the borderline level of functioning with a strong likelihood of pathological narcissism. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Walters, Jacqueline
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Personality development -- Psychological aspects , Psychology -- Biographical methods
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52363 , vital:43619
- Description: Gavin Maxwell was an author and naturalist. He published a memoir called A Ring of Bright Water, which shaped the way millions of readers viewed nature. Maxwell wrote simple prose which paints an idyllic and moving picture of his time spent in his “lost paradise”, alongside his beloved animals, most notably his otters. However, in reality Maxwell was a man in conflict, seen in volatile relationships, financial recklessness, and the preference for the company of animals over people. The aim of this study was to explore Maxwell’s life to gain insight into his personality development. This was achieved by applying Otto Kernberg’s Object Relations Theory to his life experiences. In doing so the author hoped to gain an understanding of the personality dynamics that led to Maxwell’s relational difficulties and eccentricities. Data was collected by triangulating multiple sources of information on his life. Miles and Huberman’s (1994) three step approach was used to analyse data collected. These steps are: data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. The research study found that Maxwell’s personality development was likely arrested at the third stage of Kernberg’s model. Maxwell relied primarily on immature defence mechanisms based in splitting and possessed a fragile ego structure which he protected through grandiosity. The findings indicated that Maxwell’s personality falls in the borderline level of functioning with a strong likelihood of pathological narcissism. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
A psychobiographical study of Harvey Milk
- Authors: Pretorius, Neil Zietsman
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gay rights , Psychology -- Biographical methods
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51600 , vital:43321
- Description: The aim of the study was to explore and describe Harvey Milk’s identity development and performance from the theoretical perspective of Narrative Therapy. Harvey (1930-1978), was an American Gay Rights activist who became one of the first openly gay political candidates to be elected to public office in the United States in 1977, before being assassinated in 1978. The study was conducted within a postmodern Social Constructionist epistemology which applied Michael White and David Epston’s (1990) Narrative Therapy as a particular theoretical lens to understand Harvey’s lived experiences. Harvey was chosen as the research subject based on his ability to construct his public identity as an openly gay politician and activist in defiance of the contemporarily dominant heteronormative discourse, despite the danger this posed to his personal safety. His selection was made through purposive sampling which facilitated a qualitative, single case psychobiographical study. Data on Harvey was obtained from both primary and secondary sources available in the public domain, and was analysed using Narrative Therapy concepts that describe individual identity. The study’s findings detail the narrative processes Harvey underwent and the discursive influences he experienced to move from being a closeted gay man, who hid his sexuality from public view, to an openly gay trailblazing Gay Rights activist, who fiercely challenged the norms and effects of heteronormativity on both his own life and that of his gay community. The study emphasises the value of psychobiography and Narrative Therapy to understand individual identity construction and performance. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Pretorius, Neil Zietsman
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gay rights , Psychology -- Biographical methods
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51600 , vital:43321
- Description: The aim of the study was to explore and describe Harvey Milk’s identity development and performance from the theoretical perspective of Narrative Therapy. Harvey (1930-1978), was an American Gay Rights activist who became one of the first openly gay political candidates to be elected to public office in the United States in 1977, before being assassinated in 1978. The study was conducted within a postmodern Social Constructionist epistemology which applied Michael White and David Epston’s (1990) Narrative Therapy as a particular theoretical lens to understand Harvey’s lived experiences. Harvey was chosen as the research subject based on his ability to construct his public identity as an openly gay politician and activist in defiance of the contemporarily dominant heteronormative discourse, despite the danger this posed to his personal safety. His selection was made through purposive sampling which facilitated a qualitative, single case psychobiographical study. Data on Harvey was obtained from both primary and secondary sources available in the public domain, and was analysed using Narrative Therapy concepts that describe individual identity. The study’s findings detail the narrative processes Harvey underwent and the discursive influences he experienced to move from being a closeted gay man, who hid his sexuality from public view, to an openly gay trailblazing Gay Rights activist, who fiercely challenged the norms and effects of heteronormativity on both his own life and that of his gay community. The study emphasises the value of psychobiography and Narrative Therapy to understand individual identity construction and performance. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
A study of the catalysis of the Diels-Alder and Aldol Condensation Reactions
- Authors: Ndagano, Urbain Nshokano
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178525 , vital:42947
- Description: Access restricted until April 2022. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Ndagano, Urbain Nshokano
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178525 , vital:42947
- Description: Access restricted until April 2022. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
A Systematic Visualisation Framework for Radio-Imaging Pipelines
- Authors: Andati, Lexy Acherwa Livoyi
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Radio interferometers , Radio astronomy -- Data processing , Radio astronomy -- Data processing -- Software , Jupyter
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177338 , vital:42812
- Description: Pipelines for calibration and imaging of radio interferometric data produce many intermediate images and other data products (gain tables, etc.) These often contain valuable information about the quality of the data and the calibration, and can provide the user with valuable insights, if only visualised in the right way. However, the deluge of data that we’re experiencing with modern instruments means that most of these products are never looked at, and only the final images and data products are examined. Furthermore, the variety of imaging algorithms currently available, and the range of their options, means that very different results can be produced from the same set of original data. Proper understanding of this requires a systematic comparison that can be carried out both by individual users locally, and by the community globally. We address both problems by developing a systematic visualisation framework based around Jupyter notebooks, enriched with interactive plots based on the Bokeh and Datashader visualisation libraries. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Department of Physics and Electronics, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Andati, Lexy Acherwa Livoyi
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Radio interferometers , Radio astronomy -- Data processing , Radio astronomy -- Data processing -- Software , Jupyter
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177338 , vital:42812
- Description: Pipelines for calibration and imaging of radio interferometric data produce many intermediate images and other data products (gain tables, etc.) These often contain valuable information about the quality of the data and the calibration, and can provide the user with valuable insights, if only visualised in the right way. However, the deluge of data that we’re experiencing with modern instruments means that most of these products are never looked at, and only the final images and data products are examined. Furthermore, the variety of imaging algorithms currently available, and the range of their options, means that very different results can be produced from the same set of original data. Proper understanding of this requires a systematic comparison that can be carried out both by individual users locally, and by the community globally. We address both problems by developing a systematic visualisation framework based around Jupyter notebooks, enriched with interactive plots based on the Bokeh and Datashader visualisation libraries. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Department of Physics and Electronics, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
A theoretical study of alkoxyl radical and radical cation mediated cyclisation reactions in unsaturated alkanols
- Authors: Lee, Peter Mattison Clarke
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , Density functionals
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52130 , vital:43430
- Description: A large part of this computational study focussed on selectivity patterns for 4-penten- 1-oxyl radical 1,5- and 1,6-cyclisations and for those of analogous 5-hexenyl, 4- penten-1-aminyl, 4-penten-1-iminyl and 3-phenylpropan-1-oxyl radicals. The study furthermore included cyclisation reactions of the radical cations of 4-penten-1-ol and 3-phenylpropan-1-ol. Calculations were performed for all applicable species involved in the two cyclisation modes studied, i.e. 1,5- and 1,6-cyclisation. These species included radical and radical cation precursors, as well as relevant radical transition state structures and radical adducts. All cyclisation systems investigated used the Density Functional Theory (DFT) functional B3LYP with a combination of eight basis sets. Each basis set used was a progressively higher level of theory than B3LYP/6-31G* which was used as a starting point. Cyclisations for unsubstituted species, e.g. the 4-penten-1-oxyl radical 1,5- and 1,6-cyclisations, were also simulated using the ωB97X-D and ωB97X-V functionals which account for dispersive effects. The same set of eight basis sets were used with these two functionals. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Lee, Peter Mattison Clarke
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Gqeberha (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , Density functionals
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52130 , vital:43430
- Description: A large part of this computational study focussed on selectivity patterns for 4-penten- 1-oxyl radical 1,5- and 1,6-cyclisations and for those of analogous 5-hexenyl, 4- penten-1-aminyl, 4-penten-1-iminyl and 3-phenylpropan-1-oxyl radicals. The study furthermore included cyclisation reactions of the radical cations of 4-penten-1-ol and 3-phenylpropan-1-ol. Calculations were performed for all applicable species involved in the two cyclisation modes studied, i.e. 1,5- and 1,6-cyclisation. These species included radical and radical cation precursors, as well as relevant radical transition state structures and radical adducts. All cyclisation systems investigated used the Density Functional Theory (DFT) functional B3LYP with a combination of eight basis sets. Each basis set used was a progressively higher level of theory than B3LYP/6-31G* which was used as a starting point. Cyclisations for unsubstituted species, e.g. the 4-penten-1-oxyl radical 1,5- and 1,6-cyclisations, were also simulated using the ωB97X-D and ωB97X-V functionals which account for dispersive effects. The same set of eight basis sets were used with these two functionals. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, 2021
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Abortion and the role of self-forgiveness
- Authors: Van der Berg, Hailey
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Grahamstown (South Africa) , Forgiveness -- Psychological aspects , Abortion -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51917 , vital:43384
- Description: Women who have terminated a pregnancy may identify shame, guilt, grief, and/or regret after the procedure. This study aimed to explore and describe the self-forgiveness process of women in the Nelson Mandela Metropole area who identified negative emotions such as guilt and/or regret after an abortion. The methodology followed an exploratory-descriptive, qualitative design, adopting Lincoln and Guba's (1985) model of trustworthiness. Participants were obtained through non-probability purposive sampling and data was gathered via semi-structured, online individual interviews on a face-to-face basis. Data gathered was analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis. The findings reflected the participants’ perceptions of forgiveness and self-forgiveness, as well as the psychological experiences of women post-abortion. A self-forgiveness model developed by Enright and the Human Development Study Group (1996), as well as the stages of grief developed by Kübler-Ross and Kessler (2005), was utilised to conceptualise the psychological experiences and psychological healing of post-abortion women. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Van der Berg, Hailey
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Grahamstown (South Africa) , Forgiveness -- Psychological aspects , Abortion -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51917 , vital:43384
- Description: Women who have terminated a pregnancy may identify shame, guilt, grief, and/or regret after the procedure. This study aimed to explore and describe the self-forgiveness process of women in the Nelson Mandela Metropole area who identified negative emotions such as guilt and/or regret after an abortion. The methodology followed an exploratory-descriptive, qualitative design, adopting Lincoln and Guba's (1985) model of trustworthiness. Participants were obtained through non-probability purposive sampling and data was gathered via semi-structured, online individual interviews on a face-to-face basis. Data gathered was analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis. The findings reflected the participants’ perceptions of forgiveness and self-forgiveness, as well as the psychological experiences of women post-abortion. A self-forgiveness model developed by Enright and the Human Development Study Group (1996), as well as the stages of grief developed by Kübler-Ross and Kessler (2005), was utilised to conceptualise the psychological experiences and psychological healing of post-abortion women. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Accountability in the global health regime : a critical examination of the institutional policy and practice of the global fund to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria partnership programme in Ghana
- Authors: Onokwai, John Chukwuemeka
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: World health , Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria -- Administration , Public-private sector cooperation -- Political aspects , Public-private sector cooperation -- Social aspects , Public-private sector cooperation -- Administration , Medical policy -- Ghana , Public health laws, International , Ghana -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177099 , vital:42790 , 10.21504/10962/177099
- Description: The overarching objective of this thesis is to undertake a critical examination of the institutional accountability policy and practice of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) in the context of its partnership programme in Ghana. The Global Fund is a global public-private partnership (GPPP) in health engaged in public health policy processes worldwide. As a GPPP, the policy mandate that underpins its global response to fight the aforementioned diseases requires it to enter into partnerships with recipient countries to finance their national health policy responses and strategies to tackle these diseases. Situating accountability within the context of the shift from an international health to a global health regime, the study argues that the emergence of GPPPs in health and the formal policy mandate and decision-making powers they exercise have had knock-on consequences for understanding accountability in the global health regime. This is because while the understanding of accountability for public health policy processes in the international health regime revolved solely around state-based and state-led accountability processes, it is no longer so in current global health regime. Since these GPPPs are not states, they derive their understanding of accountability from the nature and character of their individual policy and practice arrangements. However, despite contestation around the Global Fund’s accountability in global health literature, this literature has little to say on the question of how the Global Fund itself (as a partnership organisation) understands accountability in policy and how this understanding informs its practice in specific settings of global health. Thus, this study contributes to literature on GPPPs’ accountability in global health by specifically exploring how the Global Fund understands accountability in policy and how this understanding informs its accountability in practice, in particular in relationship to its implications for country ownership of health policy in Ghana. Drawing on fieldwork undertaken in Ghana, and guided by a critical political economy approach, this study will demonstrate how: 1) the Global Fund’s institutional policy and practice arrangements undermine accountability to the government and to those affected by their activities; 2) the Global Fund’s practice of country ownership is reflective of conditional ownership despite the fact that the Global Fund claims to promote country ownership as a core principle of its accountability practice in aid recipient countries; and 3) the accountability policy and practice instruments of the Global Fund are not politically neutral, but are rather a function of relations of power. To improve the ability of Ghana (and other recipient countries) to own their developmental policies, a reordering of global economic relations is needed, with a renewed emphasis and focus on economic justice and human rights. Such a reordering will improve the material capabilities (control of and access to global centres of production, finance and technology) of aid recipient countries. This will empower Ghana (and other recipient countries) to play a more dominant, rather than a subsidiary role in how the global health landscape is organised and financed and in policy processes undertaken by global health policy institutions like the Global Fund. In this way, Ghana (and other developing countries) will be able to limit and mitigate the dominance and influence of powerful donors who shape the institutional policy and practice arrangements of global health policy institutions like the Global Fund. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Department of Political and International Studies, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Onokwai, John Chukwuemeka
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: World health , Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria -- Administration , Public-private sector cooperation -- Political aspects , Public-private sector cooperation -- Social aspects , Public-private sector cooperation -- Administration , Medical policy -- Ghana , Public health laws, International , Ghana -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177099 , vital:42790 , 10.21504/10962/177099
- Description: The overarching objective of this thesis is to undertake a critical examination of the institutional accountability policy and practice of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) in the context of its partnership programme in Ghana. The Global Fund is a global public-private partnership (GPPP) in health engaged in public health policy processes worldwide. As a GPPP, the policy mandate that underpins its global response to fight the aforementioned diseases requires it to enter into partnerships with recipient countries to finance their national health policy responses and strategies to tackle these diseases. Situating accountability within the context of the shift from an international health to a global health regime, the study argues that the emergence of GPPPs in health and the formal policy mandate and decision-making powers they exercise have had knock-on consequences for understanding accountability in the global health regime. This is because while the understanding of accountability for public health policy processes in the international health regime revolved solely around state-based and state-led accountability processes, it is no longer so in current global health regime. Since these GPPPs are not states, they derive their understanding of accountability from the nature and character of their individual policy and practice arrangements. However, despite contestation around the Global Fund’s accountability in global health literature, this literature has little to say on the question of how the Global Fund itself (as a partnership organisation) understands accountability in policy and how this understanding informs its practice in specific settings of global health. Thus, this study contributes to literature on GPPPs’ accountability in global health by specifically exploring how the Global Fund understands accountability in policy and how this understanding informs its accountability in practice, in particular in relationship to its implications for country ownership of health policy in Ghana. Drawing on fieldwork undertaken in Ghana, and guided by a critical political economy approach, this study will demonstrate how: 1) the Global Fund’s institutional policy and practice arrangements undermine accountability to the government and to those affected by their activities; 2) the Global Fund’s practice of country ownership is reflective of conditional ownership despite the fact that the Global Fund claims to promote country ownership as a core principle of its accountability practice in aid recipient countries; and 3) the accountability policy and practice instruments of the Global Fund are not politically neutral, but are rather a function of relations of power. To improve the ability of Ghana (and other recipient countries) to own their developmental policies, a reordering of global economic relations is needed, with a renewed emphasis and focus on economic justice and human rights. Such a reordering will improve the material capabilities (control of and access to global centres of production, finance and technology) of aid recipient countries. This will empower Ghana (and other recipient countries) to play a more dominant, rather than a subsidiary role in how the global health landscape is organised and financed and in policy processes undertaken by global health policy institutions like the Global Fund. In this way, Ghana (and other developing countries) will be able to limit and mitigate the dominance and influence of powerful donors who shape the institutional policy and practice arrangements of global health policy institutions like the Global Fund. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Department of Political and International Studies, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
Alternative approach to controlling citrus black spot disease
- Authors: Thabede, Jahman Thabo
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178569 , vital:42951
- Description: Access restricted until April 2022. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Thabede, Jahman Thabo
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: To be added
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178569 , vital:42951
- Description: Access restricted until April 2022. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
An adolescent survivor’s experience following child sexual abuse: a case study
- Authors: Shwaye, Wandiswa
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Sexually abused teenagers -- South Africa -- Psychology , Sexually abused teenagers -- Rehabilitation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51895 , vital:43382
- Description: This study seeks to provide an in-depth description of the phenomenon of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) and will be an addition to the existing body of knowledge. CSA is a complex phenomenon and despite it being a criminal act, incidences continue to increase globally. It has become a huge problem all over the world and South Africa is one of the leading countries with a higher prevalence. To gain understanding of this phenomenon and its prevalence in South Africa, a review of literature and analysis of the causes, types, diversity, and its effects were conducted. The analysis further provided a comprehensive account on how the adolescent survivor was affected by the CSA experiences and how she recovered from its effects. One participant was selected for the study and the purposive sampling technique was used for the process. The study made use of the General Systems Theory but narrowed it to the Family Systems Theory also known as the Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST) as its theoretical framework. Systems theory was explored with a focus on families and communities and how each one contributes to the problem of CSA. The impacts of CSA on the survivor consisted of anger, poor scholastic performance marred future and broken relationships. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Shwaye, Wandiswa
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Sexually abused teenagers -- South Africa -- Psychology , Sexually abused teenagers -- Rehabilitation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51895 , vital:43382
- Description: This study seeks to provide an in-depth description of the phenomenon of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) and will be an addition to the existing body of knowledge. CSA is a complex phenomenon and despite it being a criminal act, incidences continue to increase globally. It has become a huge problem all over the world and South Africa is one of the leading countries with a higher prevalence. To gain understanding of this phenomenon and its prevalence in South Africa, a review of literature and analysis of the causes, types, diversity, and its effects were conducted. The analysis further provided a comprehensive account on how the adolescent survivor was affected by the CSA experiences and how she recovered from its effects. One participant was selected for the study and the purposive sampling technique was used for the process. The study made use of the General Systems Theory but narrowed it to the Family Systems Theory also known as the Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST) as its theoretical framework. Systems theory was explored with a focus on families and communities and how each one contributes to the problem of CSA. The impacts of CSA on the survivor consisted of anger, poor scholastic performance marred future and broken relationships. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
An analysis of employee retention : a study of selected local municipalities in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality
- Authors: Maholo, Lisa
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal officials and employees -- Job satisfaction , Career development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Personnel management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal officials and employees -- Salaries, etc. -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Affiliation (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177349 , vital:42813
- Description: The success of municipalities largely depends on the quality (skills, knowledge and experience) of individuals employed at those institutions. As key role players in the delivery of services, municipalities struggle to retain a high calibre of employees who essentially form the backbone of the public sector due to their skills, knowledge and experiences. There is a need for municipalities to create and foster an environment that encourages existing employees to remain employed. This study adopted an interpretivist research paradigm, given the study’s primary aim of gaining an in-depth understanding of employee retention as experienced by employees in the selected municipalities, together with the key influencing factors of employee retention. The qualitative research approach used a case study methodology within the Sarah Baartman District Municipality, with two category B3 and B4 municipalities selected for the study. The retention factors framework for existing employees by Munsamy and Bosch-Venter (2009) was used as the supporting theoretical structure. Respondents were selected through purposive sampling, and 16 in-depth semi-structured interviews were used to collect qualitative data. Through various content analysis techniques employed, this study identified seven employee retention factors (affiliation, career, work content, direct financial factors, external forces, work–life balance and indirect financial factors) with their associated themes. Affiliation, career and work content were identified as the three key factors which influence employee retention. Management style (relationship and interaction between employees and manager), organisational commitment and work environment were the main themes giving meaning to the affiliation factor. Training, personal growth and advancement emerged as themes related to the career factor. The work content factor was defined in terms of meaningfulness, challenges and autonomy themes. Direct and indirect financial factors, external forces, and work–life balance also emerged as factors that play a role in the retention of employees within a municipal context. Base salary and incentives were the associated themes underlying the direct financial factor. However, base salary has short-term effects on retention. Political climate and organisational reputation, municipal category and organisational structure were interrelated external forces. Flexible work arrangements, access to family, and childcare facilities give meaning to the work–life balance, while the only indirect financial factor to arise was benefits. Although some of the retention factors are clearly more influential than others, key employees attach most importance to a combination of employee retention factors that cater to their holistic needs and desires and generational differences. Therefore, the recommendations need to be implemented simultaneously. Having managers who engage employees in decisions-making and offer guidance and support, together with work environments where the physical and behavioural aspects are attended to, encourages employees to feel valued and appreciated. Municipalities should effectively communicate their mandate of ensuring adequate service delivery, which will allow employees to align their personal values to municipal objectives. Offering on-the-job training, access to career developmental programmes, evaluating job characteristics to include challenging and stimulating work and additional incentives as financial support will foster a conducive working environment for employees. Overall, municipalities face unique challenges depending on a variety of external elements such as political influence and climate. They operate in a challenging environment where they are also accountable to the community. Ultimately, municipalities must create and develop ways to acknowledge, develop and retain key employees in order to adequately deliver services. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Management, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Maholo, Lisa
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal officials and employees -- Job satisfaction , Career development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Personnel management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal officials and employees -- Salaries, etc. -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Affiliation (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177349 , vital:42813
- Description: The success of municipalities largely depends on the quality (skills, knowledge and experience) of individuals employed at those institutions. As key role players in the delivery of services, municipalities struggle to retain a high calibre of employees who essentially form the backbone of the public sector due to their skills, knowledge and experiences. There is a need for municipalities to create and foster an environment that encourages existing employees to remain employed. This study adopted an interpretivist research paradigm, given the study’s primary aim of gaining an in-depth understanding of employee retention as experienced by employees in the selected municipalities, together with the key influencing factors of employee retention. The qualitative research approach used a case study methodology within the Sarah Baartman District Municipality, with two category B3 and B4 municipalities selected for the study. The retention factors framework for existing employees by Munsamy and Bosch-Venter (2009) was used as the supporting theoretical structure. Respondents were selected through purposive sampling, and 16 in-depth semi-structured interviews were used to collect qualitative data. Through various content analysis techniques employed, this study identified seven employee retention factors (affiliation, career, work content, direct financial factors, external forces, work–life balance and indirect financial factors) with their associated themes. Affiliation, career and work content were identified as the three key factors which influence employee retention. Management style (relationship and interaction between employees and manager), organisational commitment and work environment were the main themes giving meaning to the affiliation factor. Training, personal growth and advancement emerged as themes related to the career factor. The work content factor was defined in terms of meaningfulness, challenges and autonomy themes. Direct and indirect financial factors, external forces, and work–life balance also emerged as factors that play a role in the retention of employees within a municipal context. Base salary and incentives were the associated themes underlying the direct financial factor. However, base salary has short-term effects on retention. Political climate and organisational reputation, municipal category and organisational structure were interrelated external forces. Flexible work arrangements, access to family, and childcare facilities give meaning to the work–life balance, while the only indirect financial factor to arise was benefits. Although some of the retention factors are clearly more influential than others, key employees attach most importance to a combination of employee retention factors that cater to their holistic needs and desires and generational differences. Therefore, the recommendations need to be implemented simultaneously. Having managers who engage employees in decisions-making and offer guidance and support, together with work environments where the physical and behavioural aspects are attended to, encourages employees to feel valued and appreciated. Municipalities should effectively communicate their mandate of ensuring adequate service delivery, which will allow employees to align their personal values to municipal objectives. Offering on-the-job training, access to career developmental programmes, evaluating job characteristics to include challenging and stimulating work and additional incentives as financial support will foster a conducive working environment for employees. Overall, municipalities face unique challenges depending on a variety of external elements such as political influence and climate. They operate in a challenging environment where they are also accountable to the community. Ultimately, municipalities must create and develop ways to acknowledge, develop and retain key employees in order to adequately deliver services. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Management, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
An analysis of intrasemiotic and intersemiotic relations of textual and visual modes in Namibian school science textbooks
- Authors: Mateus, Venasius
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Semiotics , Force and energy , Visual learning , Verbal learning , Functionalism (Linguistics) , Science -- Textbooks
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177203 , vital:42799
- Description: Although science education in Namibia receives much attention, learners’ performance is low in subjects such as Physical Sciences. The topic of Forces is among the topics in Physical Sciences where learners perform poorly. The provision of basic education in Namibia faces many challenges. One of these is that many teachers are not fully qualified for teaching the subjects they currently teach. Another (possibly related) challenge is that the majority of teachers in Namibian schools rely heavily on school textbooks when planning their lessons. In addition, learners use school textbooks as learning aids. The textbooks are developed and published in the private sector and based on the national curriculum statements. Quality of education has been amongst the major goals of education in Namibia. For quality assurance purposes, school science textbooks have to undergo a formal evaluation process. School textbooks, especially science textbooks, are multimodal. This means that they are designed with various modes, such as the textual and visual, often used in expressing scientific meanings. Literature reveals the textual and visual as individual modes having their own affordances, however, when integrated in school science textbooks contribute to strengthened meanings. No study published was found in Namibia or elsewhere that focused on analysing the intrasemiotic and intersemiotic sense relations of the textual and visual modes in Namibian school Physical Sciences textbooks. This study therefore aimed at contributing to filling this knowledge gap. The research is a qualitative case study and employed the interpretive paradigm. The selected Physical Sciences textbooks that constitute the data in this study were explored in depth via document analysis. Related textual and visual modes in the Physical Sciences textbooks were analysed in order to help answer the research questions of the study. Systemic Functional Linguistics was employed as the theoretical underpinning for this study. In this study, the sense relations were explored in terms of the sense relation themes which were coded and developed from common features of scientific discourse. The results reveal that scientific knowledge within the textual mode in the topic of Forces is communicated mostly through synonymy and repetition while within the visual mode it is mostly through antonymy, collocation, and synonymy. This contributed to meaning potential in the topic of Forces for the three Physical Sciences textbooks. The results further indicated that the overall cohesion within the textual and visual modes in the topic of Forces is achieved since repetition, which is the most direct form of lexical cohesion together with synonymy, collocation, and antonymy which are aspects of cohesion, occurred most frequently within these modes. This result further indicates that meaning potential in the topic of Forces in the three Physical Sciences textbooks were strengthened. While some sense relations occurred most frequently within individual modes, they were less frequent in other modes and vice versa. This indicates that different modes have different affordances. Finally, it was found that combining the textual and visual modes in the topic of Forces contributes to intersemiotic complementarity being achieved through the sense relations of collocation, hyponymy, and meronymy. , Thesis (MEd) -- Education, Education, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Mateus, Venasius
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Semiotics , Force and energy , Visual learning , Verbal learning , Functionalism (Linguistics) , Science -- Textbooks
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/177203 , vital:42799
- Description: Although science education in Namibia receives much attention, learners’ performance is low in subjects such as Physical Sciences. The topic of Forces is among the topics in Physical Sciences where learners perform poorly. The provision of basic education in Namibia faces many challenges. One of these is that many teachers are not fully qualified for teaching the subjects they currently teach. Another (possibly related) challenge is that the majority of teachers in Namibian schools rely heavily on school textbooks when planning their lessons. In addition, learners use school textbooks as learning aids. The textbooks are developed and published in the private sector and based on the national curriculum statements. Quality of education has been amongst the major goals of education in Namibia. For quality assurance purposes, school science textbooks have to undergo a formal evaluation process. School textbooks, especially science textbooks, are multimodal. This means that they are designed with various modes, such as the textual and visual, often used in expressing scientific meanings. Literature reveals the textual and visual as individual modes having their own affordances, however, when integrated in school science textbooks contribute to strengthened meanings. No study published was found in Namibia or elsewhere that focused on analysing the intrasemiotic and intersemiotic sense relations of the textual and visual modes in Namibian school Physical Sciences textbooks. This study therefore aimed at contributing to filling this knowledge gap. The research is a qualitative case study and employed the interpretive paradigm. The selected Physical Sciences textbooks that constitute the data in this study were explored in depth via document analysis. Related textual and visual modes in the Physical Sciences textbooks were analysed in order to help answer the research questions of the study. Systemic Functional Linguistics was employed as the theoretical underpinning for this study. In this study, the sense relations were explored in terms of the sense relation themes which were coded and developed from common features of scientific discourse. The results reveal that scientific knowledge within the textual mode in the topic of Forces is communicated mostly through synonymy and repetition while within the visual mode it is mostly through antonymy, collocation, and synonymy. This contributed to meaning potential in the topic of Forces for the three Physical Sciences textbooks. The results further indicated that the overall cohesion within the textual and visual modes in the topic of Forces is achieved since repetition, which is the most direct form of lexical cohesion together with synonymy, collocation, and antonymy which are aspects of cohesion, occurred most frequently within these modes. This result further indicates that meaning potential in the topic of Forces in the three Physical Sciences textbooks were strengthened. While some sense relations occurred most frequently within individual modes, they were less frequent in other modes and vice versa. This indicates that different modes have different affordances. Finally, it was found that combining the textual and visual modes in the topic of Forces contributes to intersemiotic complementarity being achieved through the sense relations of collocation, hyponymy, and meronymy. , Thesis (MEd) -- Education, Education, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
An analysis of supply chain management procedures within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Authors: Zizipho, Goniwe
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Business logistics -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Industrial procurement -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52524 , vital:43683
- Description: This study has analysed the Supply Chain Management (SCM) procedures in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. Moreover, subsequent the research study provided a brief background on the local government SCM and the significance of the study which lies on its contribution in the improvement of SCM policies and procedures within the NMBMM. The problem that driven this study is the lack and inadequate use of SCM policies, procedures, practices, and systems in municipalities which that may lead to the misuse of public funds as well as poor service delivery. To address SCM issues in local government, SCM policy was adopted by the Cabinet of Republic of South Africa in 2003 as a way to address noted deficiencies in its public procurement processes within the SCM. This is in conjunction with the number of legislative frameworks were set to guide processes and procedures in this department. This research adopted the use of qualitative approach, for the purpose of this study it is the suitable approach due to time and resources efficiency, as it used desktop analysis and the secondary data which entails internet sources. Based on the literature review findings the study shows the application of six SCM elements, as outlined in the NMBMM SCM Policy. The recommendations of the study setting more emphasis on online tender application procedure. The effective employment of these recommendations can improve the processes and procedures in local government SCM, specifically NMBMM, and this can address the problem of lack of and inadequate use of SCM policies. Transforming NMBMM to the most effective, accountable, responsive local government prioritising the needs of public. , Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Zizipho, Goniwe
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Business logistics -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Industrial procurement -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/52524 , vital:43683
- Description: This study has analysed the Supply Chain Management (SCM) procedures in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. Moreover, subsequent the research study provided a brief background on the local government SCM and the significance of the study which lies on its contribution in the improvement of SCM policies and procedures within the NMBMM. The problem that driven this study is the lack and inadequate use of SCM policies, procedures, practices, and systems in municipalities which that may lead to the misuse of public funds as well as poor service delivery. To address SCM issues in local government, SCM policy was adopted by the Cabinet of Republic of South Africa in 2003 as a way to address noted deficiencies in its public procurement processes within the SCM. This is in conjunction with the number of legislative frameworks were set to guide processes and procedures in this department. This research adopted the use of qualitative approach, for the purpose of this study it is the suitable approach due to time and resources efficiency, as it used desktop analysis and the secondary data which entails internet sources. Based on the literature review findings the study shows the application of six SCM elements, as outlined in the NMBMM SCM Policy. The recommendations of the study setting more emphasis on online tender application procedure. The effective employment of these recommendations can improve the processes and procedures in local government SCM, specifically NMBMM, and this can address the problem of lack of and inadequate use of SCM policies. Transforming NMBMM to the most effective, accountable, responsive local government prioritising the needs of public. , Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
An analysis of the countervailing measures used to address the anti-competitive effects of Government subsidies in the African Continental Free Trade Area
- Authors: Matsimbi, Rhulani Shaun
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Subsidies -- Law and legislation -- Africa , Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (1994 April 15) , Trade regulation -- Africa , World Trade Organization , Antitrust law -- Africa , Restraint of trade -- Africa , African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) Agreement
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178330 , vital:42930
- Description: Government subsidies are becoming more prevalent on the African continent. Subsidies allow the government to intervene in markets to incentivise more investment into nascent and struggling industries by improving the efficiency of firms in such industries. As such, subsidies form an essential part of some African countries’ industrialisation policies. However, the use of subsidies faces a challenge because of the prohibition contained in the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement). The SCM Agreement prohibits the granting of subsidies that are contingent on export performance or the use of domestic over imported content. While African countries have not faced challenges in the WTO for their use of these subsidies, this may change with the operation of the African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) Agreement. This is because the AfCFTA Agreement localises the WTO’s rules on subsidisation. This study critically examines the provisions in the AfCFTA Guidelines on the Implementation of Trade Remedies that regulate the use of export subsidies and subsidies contingent on the use of domestic content. It discusses how the absolute prohibition of these subsidies in the AfCFTA Agreement is not the most effective way to regulate their anti-competitive effects in the African continent. Specifically, this study discusses the role that competition policy might play in ensuring that export subsidies and local content subsidies are regulated in a manner that suits Africa’s context. Ultimately, this study concludes and recommends that the AfCFTA must develop unique rules to regulate subsidies in a way that caters to the needs of the continent. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, Law, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Matsimbi, Rhulani Shaun
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Subsidies -- Law and legislation -- Africa , Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (1994 April 15) , Trade regulation -- Africa , World Trade Organization , Antitrust law -- Africa , Restraint of trade -- Africa , African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) Agreement
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/178330 , vital:42930
- Description: Government subsidies are becoming more prevalent on the African continent. Subsidies allow the government to intervene in markets to incentivise more investment into nascent and struggling industries by improving the efficiency of firms in such industries. As such, subsidies form an essential part of some African countries’ industrialisation policies. However, the use of subsidies faces a challenge because of the prohibition contained in the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement). The SCM Agreement prohibits the granting of subsidies that are contingent on export performance or the use of domestic over imported content. While African countries have not faced challenges in the WTO for their use of these subsidies, this may change with the operation of the African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) Agreement. This is because the AfCFTA Agreement localises the WTO’s rules on subsidisation. This study critically examines the provisions in the AfCFTA Guidelines on the Implementation of Trade Remedies that regulate the use of export subsidies and subsidies contingent on the use of domestic content. It discusses how the absolute prohibition of these subsidies in the AfCFTA Agreement is not the most effective way to regulate their anti-competitive effects in the African continent. Specifically, this study discusses the role that competition policy might play in ensuring that export subsidies and local content subsidies are regulated in a manner that suits Africa’s context. Ultimately, this study concludes and recommends that the AfCFTA must develop unique rules to regulate subsidies in a way that caters to the needs of the continent. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law, Law, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
An analysis of the employability of civil engineering graduate technicians
- Authors: Ikudayisi, Akinola Mayowa
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Job hunting , Career development , Labor market
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51578 , vital:43312
- Description: In South Africa, a severe shortage of professional engineers exists compared to the international benchmark of an average population per engineer. This shortage is one of the major causes of poor service and utility delivery at the municipal level. In addition, there is an insufficient number of competent engineers available for ongoing projects. Hence, there is a critical shortage of experienced, engineering professionals, particularly mid-career engineers to be responsible for production works. As a result, Universities of Technology (UoT) were tasked and authorised to train engineering professionals. From research, it was discovered that most of the Civil Engineering Graduate Technicians (CEGT) failed to acquire and develop relevant and essential industry skills during their engineering programme. This makes it difficult for them to be employed in the engineering workplaces. The departments of civil engineering in some South African universities have not evaluated the quality of the education of their CEGT and their employability to work in the engineering industry. This research therefore aims to measure the employability and quality of education of Civil Engineering Graduate Technicians from some South African universities by investigating the experiences of civil engineering alumni and employers of graduates in the engineering industry. This is to determine if the graduate technicians are provided and equipped with relevant industry competencies and skills set to meet the industry’s expectation. An online survey which contains 89 closed-ended questions was designed to allow alumni and their employers assess the standard of education of graduates and industry competence acquired during their engineering programmes. The Universal Resource Link (URL) to the online questionnaire was sent to a sample of 600 respondents using a web-based survey approach. Only seventeen percent of the targeted population completed the survey and that makes 102 respondents in this study. A conceptual model that measures the employability of Civil Engineering Graduate Technicians was also developed. The data gathered was statistically analysed. Varying descriptive and inferential statistics were explored, such as frequency distributions, central measure, dispersion measure, the Cronbach alpha coefficient test, one-sample t-tests, Cohen’s d, Pearson’s product moment correlation, ANOVA, MANOVA, ranking indices and lastly, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The EFA was employed to ensure the construct validity of the instrument and to identify items which should be removed. Each of these statistics cumulatively performs an empirical evaluation of the Civil Engineering Graduate Technician employability model. From the result of the data analysis, the hypothesised model identified the following factors as having an influence on the employability of Civil Engineering Graduate Technicians: Knowledge Gained, Academic Staff Teaching, Engineering Design Ability, Individual and Teamwork Ability, Participation of each Student, Infrastructure Provided, Problem Solving Skills, Professional and Technical Communication Skills, Workplace Practices, Encouragement in School and Essentiality of Creativity and Innovation. These eleven independent factors from Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient were all found to possess good internal reliability. They all exert a significant positive effect on employability. Additionally, managerial recommendations, limitations to the study and a call for future research were discussed. If these recommendations are implemented, UoTs and employers in the civil engineering industry should be successful in producing work-ready civil engineering technicians. Having these recommendations implemented is fundamental to creating innovative and skilled technicians and engineers in the engineering industry, who can adapt to market changes. Of the competencies assessed, “Individual and Teamwork ability” received the highest and “Infrastructure provided” the lowest rating. Overall, the results indicate that employers are reasonably satisfied with the competencies of Civil Engineering Graduate Technicians but point to the need for the strengthening of “Engineering design ability”, “Professional and technical communication skills” and “Infrastructure provided” competencies within the curriculum of the Diploma programme. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Ikudayisi, Akinola Mayowa
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Job hunting , Career development , Labor market
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51578 , vital:43312
- Description: In South Africa, a severe shortage of professional engineers exists compared to the international benchmark of an average population per engineer. This shortage is one of the major causes of poor service and utility delivery at the municipal level. In addition, there is an insufficient number of competent engineers available for ongoing projects. Hence, there is a critical shortage of experienced, engineering professionals, particularly mid-career engineers to be responsible for production works. As a result, Universities of Technology (UoT) were tasked and authorised to train engineering professionals. From research, it was discovered that most of the Civil Engineering Graduate Technicians (CEGT) failed to acquire and develop relevant and essential industry skills during their engineering programme. This makes it difficult for them to be employed in the engineering workplaces. The departments of civil engineering in some South African universities have not evaluated the quality of the education of their CEGT and their employability to work in the engineering industry. This research therefore aims to measure the employability and quality of education of Civil Engineering Graduate Technicians from some South African universities by investigating the experiences of civil engineering alumni and employers of graduates in the engineering industry. This is to determine if the graduate technicians are provided and equipped with relevant industry competencies and skills set to meet the industry’s expectation. An online survey which contains 89 closed-ended questions was designed to allow alumni and their employers assess the standard of education of graduates and industry competence acquired during their engineering programmes. The Universal Resource Link (URL) to the online questionnaire was sent to a sample of 600 respondents using a web-based survey approach. Only seventeen percent of the targeted population completed the survey and that makes 102 respondents in this study. A conceptual model that measures the employability of Civil Engineering Graduate Technicians was also developed. The data gathered was statistically analysed. Varying descriptive and inferential statistics were explored, such as frequency distributions, central measure, dispersion measure, the Cronbach alpha coefficient test, one-sample t-tests, Cohen’s d, Pearson’s product moment correlation, ANOVA, MANOVA, ranking indices and lastly, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The EFA was employed to ensure the construct validity of the instrument and to identify items which should be removed. Each of these statistics cumulatively performs an empirical evaluation of the Civil Engineering Graduate Technician employability model. From the result of the data analysis, the hypothesised model identified the following factors as having an influence on the employability of Civil Engineering Graduate Technicians: Knowledge Gained, Academic Staff Teaching, Engineering Design Ability, Individual and Teamwork Ability, Participation of each Student, Infrastructure Provided, Problem Solving Skills, Professional and Technical Communication Skills, Workplace Practices, Encouragement in School and Essentiality of Creativity and Innovation. These eleven independent factors from Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient were all found to possess good internal reliability. They all exert a significant positive effect on employability. Additionally, managerial recommendations, limitations to the study and a call for future research were discussed. If these recommendations are implemented, UoTs and employers in the civil engineering industry should be successful in producing work-ready civil engineering technicians. Having these recommendations implemented is fundamental to creating innovative and skilled technicians and engineers in the engineering industry, who can adapt to market changes. Of the competencies assessed, “Individual and Teamwork ability” received the highest and “Infrastructure provided” the lowest rating. Overall, the results indicate that employers are reasonably satisfied with the competencies of Civil Engineering Graduate Technicians but point to the need for the strengthening of “Engineering design ability”, “Professional and technical communication skills” and “Infrastructure provided” competencies within the curriculum of the Diploma programme. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04