An analysis of intellectual property awareness among researchers at University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
- Mawokomayi-Moffat, Betina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7299-7327
- Authors: Mawokomayi-Moffat, Betina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7299-7327
- Date: 2020-09
- Subjects: Intellectual property
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21224 , vital:47418
- Description: This study emerges in the period whereby innovation has become relevant in today’s society. Globally, universities are shifting from being merely centers of learning to becoming entrepreneurial universities as they are commercialising their intellectual property (IP). This study analyses IP awareness among researchers at University of Fort Hare (UFH). The study was informed by the pragmatic paradigm and a mixed-methods design was used to collect data. The study focuses on IP awareness activities conducted between 2016 and 2019, data was collected between January 2020 and November 2020 as there was need for collecting more data from the Innovation Office to supplement the data that was initially collected. Closed ended questionnaires were distributed to researchers at UFH since they are potential IP creators, an open-ended questionnaire was also used to collect data from one key informant from the Innovation Office, and a semi-structured interview was conducted with one key informant from the Innovation Office at UFH. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data from qualitative responses on questionnaires, interview responses and the UFH IP policy. Statistical Package for Social Sciences and Microsoft Excel were used to analyse quantitative data. The study revealed that the UFH Innovation Office employs various communication strategies to create awareness of IP among researchers and that the Office hosts at least three IP workshops each year. The study found out that methods used to create awareness include social media posts, email communication, distributing booklets and fliers that contain IP information, interactive discussions with IP experts, and small visits to faculty researchers, or research groups to conduct presentations on IP. However, despite these initiatives at the University, the study found out that researchers have a low level of IP awareness and this needs to be addressed by the Innovation Office. Interestingly, the results further indicated that UFH values IP and in responding to the requirements of the Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Funded Research Act, of 2008, the University established its Technology Transfer Office that is responsible for facilitation of commercialisation of research outputs and creating awareness of IP among researchers. The study recommends the need to improve communication strategies for IP awareness and that the Office should employ diversified strategies to educate researchers about the importance of IP and its protection and that awareness activities should not be a once off activity but continuous. The study also recommends the University and the government to consider incorporating IP modules in the curriculum of all disciplines so that every student and researcher would have the knowledge of IP and how it affects people’s lives. The study also recommends that research and development should be prioritised as innovations emanate from research projects. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-09
- Authors: Mawokomayi-Moffat, Betina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7299-7327
- Date: 2020-09
- Subjects: Intellectual property
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21224 , vital:47418
- Description: This study emerges in the period whereby innovation has become relevant in today’s society. Globally, universities are shifting from being merely centers of learning to becoming entrepreneurial universities as they are commercialising their intellectual property (IP). This study analyses IP awareness among researchers at University of Fort Hare (UFH). The study was informed by the pragmatic paradigm and a mixed-methods design was used to collect data. The study focuses on IP awareness activities conducted between 2016 and 2019, data was collected between January 2020 and November 2020 as there was need for collecting more data from the Innovation Office to supplement the data that was initially collected. Closed ended questionnaires were distributed to researchers at UFH since they are potential IP creators, an open-ended questionnaire was also used to collect data from one key informant from the Innovation Office, and a semi-structured interview was conducted with one key informant from the Innovation Office at UFH. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data from qualitative responses on questionnaires, interview responses and the UFH IP policy. Statistical Package for Social Sciences and Microsoft Excel were used to analyse quantitative data. The study revealed that the UFH Innovation Office employs various communication strategies to create awareness of IP among researchers and that the Office hosts at least three IP workshops each year. The study found out that methods used to create awareness include social media posts, email communication, distributing booklets and fliers that contain IP information, interactive discussions with IP experts, and small visits to faculty researchers, or research groups to conduct presentations on IP. However, despite these initiatives at the University, the study found out that researchers have a low level of IP awareness and this needs to be addressed by the Innovation Office. Interestingly, the results further indicated that UFH values IP and in responding to the requirements of the Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Funded Research Act, of 2008, the University established its Technology Transfer Office that is responsible for facilitation of commercialisation of research outputs and creating awareness of IP among researchers. The study recommends the need to improve communication strategies for IP awareness and that the Office should employ diversified strategies to educate researchers about the importance of IP and its protection and that awareness activities should not be a once off activity but continuous. The study also recommends the University and the government to consider incorporating IP modules in the curriculum of all disciplines so that every student and researcher would have the knowledge of IP and how it affects people’s lives. The study also recommends that research and development should be prioritised as innovations emanate from research projects. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-09
Teachers’ views of pragmatic strategies to enhance leadership potential for female learners in primary schools at Amathole East Education District
- Authors: Bubulu, Thandiwe
- Date: 2020-09
- Subjects: Educational leadership , School improvement programs
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20024 , vital:44949
- Description: This study examined how the establishment of leadership development programme targeted at female learners in primary schools could promote female learner leaders and motivate more women to take up leadership positions to address concerns of gender and to prepare females for the challenges they may face when assuming leadership roles in future.Whereas adolescent girls may be the future representation of women leaders in society, leadership development of female learners in primary schools has been neglected. Currently, a review of literature on the problem of gender imbalance at leadership level reveals a dearth of research among the youth, less so, among young women. Yet, globally, in Africa and in South Africa, particularly, there is an inequitable balance of leadership positions in society when comparing men and women. The researcher has identified this gap and has decided to dedicated research efforts in adolescent leadership development to enrich the scant existing knowledge on the born-global phenomenon. Because schools play an important role in student development and schools are a key resource for achieving equity goals, understanding how leadership is promoted by school teachers is an important step toward growing the literature on female learners’ leadership development. The study was based on five primary schools in the Amathole District in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The study followed a qualitative research approach where interviews were employed to elicit data from the study’s participants and to help in understanding the phenomenon under study. A non-probability, purposive sampling technique was used where ten participants were selected. The study’s participants were five (5) principals, two (2) HoDs, two (2) post level 1 teachers and one (1) Learner Support Assistant (LSA). The study found that a paradigm shift from the traditional view of leadership, where young people are not given leadership positions because they are regarded as young or quiet is a patriarchal belief system that should be done away with. Instead, role-players should embrace and encourage female children to be transformational and servant leaders. There is need for a change of mind-set from all role-players in South Africa to accept learners as equal participants in school leadership and to prioritise the training and development of female learner leaders. Female learners need to be taught a broader understanding of leadership as a concept including differing leadership theories and styles. Leadership as a concept needs to be taught early in primary school and to all learners. The study recommended leadership development seminars, camps, workshops and guest speakers that could aid in the development of leadership at primary school, and to be prioritised. The study concluded that continuous leadership training from a young age, for all learners in primary schools should be encouraged to ensure that learners chosen to lead assume leadership roles with confidence, skills and experience. Government schools need to allocate budget for leadership development of learners, with special funding for the relatively disadvantaged gender. , Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty of Education, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-09
- Authors: Bubulu, Thandiwe
- Date: 2020-09
- Subjects: Educational leadership , School improvement programs
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20024 , vital:44949
- Description: This study examined how the establishment of leadership development programme targeted at female learners in primary schools could promote female learner leaders and motivate more women to take up leadership positions to address concerns of gender and to prepare females for the challenges they may face when assuming leadership roles in future.Whereas adolescent girls may be the future representation of women leaders in society, leadership development of female learners in primary schools has been neglected. Currently, a review of literature on the problem of gender imbalance at leadership level reveals a dearth of research among the youth, less so, among young women. Yet, globally, in Africa and in South Africa, particularly, there is an inequitable balance of leadership positions in society when comparing men and women. The researcher has identified this gap and has decided to dedicated research efforts in adolescent leadership development to enrich the scant existing knowledge on the born-global phenomenon. Because schools play an important role in student development and schools are a key resource for achieving equity goals, understanding how leadership is promoted by school teachers is an important step toward growing the literature on female learners’ leadership development. The study was based on five primary schools in the Amathole District in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The study followed a qualitative research approach where interviews were employed to elicit data from the study’s participants and to help in understanding the phenomenon under study. A non-probability, purposive sampling technique was used where ten participants were selected. The study’s participants were five (5) principals, two (2) HoDs, two (2) post level 1 teachers and one (1) Learner Support Assistant (LSA). The study found that a paradigm shift from the traditional view of leadership, where young people are not given leadership positions because they are regarded as young or quiet is a patriarchal belief system that should be done away with. Instead, role-players should embrace and encourage female children to be transformational and servant leaders. There is need for a change of mind-set from all role-players in South Africa to accept learners as equal participants in school leadership and to prioritise the training and development of female learner leaders. Female learners need to be taught a broader understanding of leadership as a concept including differing leadership theories and styles. Leadership as a concept needs to be taught early in primary school and to all learners. The study recommended leadership development seminars, camps, workshops and guest speakers that could aid in the development of leadership at primary school, and to be prioritised. The study concluded that continuous leadership training from a young age, for all learners in primary schools should be encouraged to ensure that learners chosen to lead assume leadership roles with confidence, skills and experience. Government schools need to allocate budget for leadership development of learners, with special funding for the relatively disadvantaged gender. , Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty of Education, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-09
Usage of traditional medicines and other indigenous practices by childbearing women during pregnancy in Makoni District, Zimbabwe
- Authors: Chituku, Sibongile
- Date: 2020-09
- Subjects: Traditional medicine -- Zimbabwe , Medicinal plants
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20142 , vital:45347
- Description: Use of traditional medicinal plants (TMPs) during pregnancy, labour and delivery is common globally although evidence on their therapeutic effectiveness and safety is scarce. Research relating to indigenous practices and utilisation of traditional medicinal plants by childbearing women during pregnancy in Makoni District, Zimbabwe was carried out. The study included identification of culturally important indigenous knowledge (IK) practices and TMPs used by pregnant women in order to understand how such plants and practices may affect maternal, foetal, labour, and infant outcomes. Four hundred questionnaires were distributed to postnatal mothers in Makoni District, aimed at obtaining information on IK practices associated with utilisation of TMPs by childbearing women during pregnancy. In addition to this, five focused group discussions were carried out between September 2016 and December 2017 with 66 traditional healers from Makoni District. Documented information included names of utilised plants, plant parts used, dosage, methods of preparation and administration, and reasons for use. Voucher specimens of the utilised plant species were collected. Brine shrimp lethality test was used to evaluate potential toxicity of the documented plant species. The collected data were analysed used Epi info version 7.1 and SPSS version 16.5. Quantitative data revealed that 168 (42.0percent) of pregnant women in Makoni District use TMPs and 95 (23.8percent) used traditional practices (including elephant dung) for maternal and childcare. Among the women who used TMPs were those who experienced precipitated and prolonged labour. Correlation was found between demographic factors and utilisation of TMPs. For example, being a Christian was significantly associated with using TMPs with relative risk (RR) value of 8.9. Postnatal mothers who used TMPs during their pregnancy were 82.0percent less likely to have their membranes ruptured artificially, RR = 0.2 and more likely to experience late decelerations during active phase (RR = 2.8) than those who did not use TMPs. The differences between those who used TMPs and those who did not during pregnancy and labour, showed no significant differences in infant outcomes. The ethnobotanical survey revealed that a total of 47 plant species from 27 families and 13 non-plant products were used as herbal, complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) by pregnant women. More than half of all the documented plant species (59.8percent), belonged to the Fabaceae (19.1), Asteraceae, (8.5percent), Convolvulaceae (6.4percent), Asparagaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae, Rubiaceae, Vitaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae (4.3percent each) families. The most used plants were shrubs (40.4percent), trees (27.7percent), climbers (17.0percent), herbs (12.8percent) and a grasses (2.1percent). The most used plant parts were roots (61.7percent), leaves (25.5percent), fruits (12.8percent) and bark (10.6percent). A total of 26 medical conditions were treated with the majority of medicinal plants used to dilate or widen the birth canal (55.3percent) and to augment labour or speed up the delivery process (46.8percent). Interviews with traditional healers revealed that 14.9percent of the documented herbal medicines were used to guard against witchcraft and to prevent the infants’ illnesses. Other major uses of herbal medicines during pregnancy included their use to lower blood pressure or hypertension during pregnancy (12.8percent), to prevent caesarean section (10.6percent) and to loosen or relax muscles during pregnancy (8.5percent). Widely used non-plant products included soil of a burrowing mole (relative frequency citation (RFC) value of 0.61), elephant dung (RFC = 0.59), wasp nest (RFC = 0.32) and soap (RFC = 25). The majority of these non-plant products (22.8percent) were used to dilate birth canal (7.6percent) and augment labour (15.2percent). None of the twenty-five species with (RFC) > 0.05 evaluated for potential toxicity were categorised as toxic, but Albizia amara, Datura stramonium and Ricinus communis were categorised as having medium toxicity levels, nine species as having low toxicity levels while 13 species were categorised as non-toxic. This study provides valuable insights into the use of medicinal plants used by women during pregnancy, labour, delivery and post-delivery in Makoni District, Zimbabwe. Medicinal plants play an integral role in the provision of basic health care in Zimbabwe. However, the brine shrimp lethality test results categorised some of the prescribed species such as Albizia amara, Datura stramonium and Ricinus communis as having medium levels of toxicity and this is a cause of concern regarding utilization of TMPs during pregnancy. Therefore, TMPs used during pregnancy should be subjected to detailed phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological experiments aimed at identifying some of the potential toxic compounds and side effects associated with intake of TMPs and associated herbal products. , Thesis (PhD(Nursing)) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-09
- Authors: Chituku, Sibongile
- Date: 2020-09
- Subjects: Traditional medicine -- Zimbabwe , Medicinal plants
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20142 , vital:45347
- Description: Use of traditional medicinal plants (TMPs) during pregnancy, labour and delivery is common globally although evidence on their therapeutic effectiveness and safety is scarce. Research relating to indigenous practices and utilisation of traditional medicinal plants by childbearing women during pregnancy in Makoni District, Zimbabwe was carried out. The study included identification of culturally important indigenous knowledge (IK) practices and TMPs used by pregnant women in order to understand how such plants and practices may affect maternal, foetal, labour, and infant outcomes. Four hundred questionnaires were distributed to postnatal mothers in Makoni District, aimed at obtaining information on IK practices associated with utilisation of TMPs by childbearing women during pregnancy. In addition to this, five focused group discussions were carried out between September 2016 and December 2017 with 66 traditional healers from Makoni District. Documented information included names of utilised plants, plant parts used, dosage, methods of preparation and administration, and reasons for use. Voucher specimens of the utilised plant species were collected. Brine shrimp lethality test was used to evaluate potential toxicity of the documented plant species. The collected data were analysed used Epi info version 7.1 and SPSS version 16.5. Quantitative data revealed that 168 (42.0percent) of pregnant women in Makoni District use TMPs and 95 (23.8percent) used traditional practices (including elephant dung) for maternal and childcare. Among the women who used TMPs were those who experienced precipitated and prolonged labour. Correlation was found between demographic factors and utilisation of TMPs. For example, being a Christian was significantly associated with using TMPs with relative risk (RR) value of 8.9. Postnatal mothers who used TMPs during their pregnancy were 82.0percent less likely to have their membranes ruptured artificially, RR = 0.2 and more likely to experience late decelerations during active phase (RR = 2.8) than those who did not use TMPs. The differences between those who used TMPs and those who did not during pregnancy and labour, showed no significant differences in infant outcomes. The ethnobotanical survey revealed that a total of 47 plant species from 27 families and 13 non-plant products were used as herbal, complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) by pregnant women. More than half of all the documented plant species (59.8percent), belonged to the Fabaceae (19.1), Asteraceae, (8.5percent), Convolvulaceae (6.4percent), Asparagaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae, Rubiaceae, Vitaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae (4.3percent each) families. The most used plants were shrubs (40.4percent), trees (27.7percent), climbers (17.0percent), herbs (12.8percent) and a grasses (2.1percent). The most used plant parts were roots (61.7percent), leaves (25.5percent), fruits (12.8percent) and bark (10.6percent). A total of 26 medical conditions were treated with the majority of medicinal plants used to dilate or widen the birth canal (55.3percent) and to augment labour or speed up the delivery process (46.8percent). Interviews with traditional healers revealed that 14.9percent of the documented herbal medicines were used to guard against witchcraft and to prevent the infants’ illnesses. Other major uses of herbal medicines during pregnancy included their use to lower blood pressure or hypertension during pregnancy (12.8percent), to prevent caesarean section (10.6percent) and to loosen or relax muscles during pregnancy (8.5percent). Widely used non-plant products included soil of a burrowing mole (relative frequency citation (RFC) value of 0.61), elephant dung (RFC = 0.59), wasp nest (RFC = 0.32) and soap (RFC = 25). The majority of these non-plant products (22.8percent) were used to dilate birth canal (7.6percent) and augment labour (15.2percent). None of the twenty-five species with (RFC) > 0.05 evaluated for potential toxicity were categorised as toxic, but Albizia amara, Datura stramonium and Ricinus communis were categorised as having medium toxicity levels, nine species as having low toxicity levels while 13 species were categorised as non-toxic. This study provides valuable insights into the use of medicinal plants used by women during pregnancy, labour, delivery and post-delivery in Makoni District, Zimbabwe. Medicinal plants play an integral role in the provision of basic health care in Zimbabwe. However, the brine shrimp lethality test results categorised some of the prescribed species such as Albizia amara, Datura stramonium and Ricinus communis as having medium levels of toxicity and this is a cause of concern regarding utilization of TMPs during pregnancy. Therefore, TMPs used during pregnancy should be subjected to detailed phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological experiments aimed at identifying some of the potential toxic compounds and side effects associated with intake of TMPs and associated herbal products. , Thesis (PhD(Nursing)) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020-09
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