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Gathering drinking strong spirits with students

  • Authors: Unnamed
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: UNCATALOGUED
  • Type: Video
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/303134 , vital:58296 , KHV-256
  • Description: The gathering drinking strong spirits passing it around the room , Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons "Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike" License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/) (NEVER CAHNGE THIS FIELD)
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 2015

Gathering drinking strong spirits with students 2

  • Authors: Unnamed
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: UNCATALOGUED
  • Type: Video
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/303147 , vital:58297 , KHV-257
  • Description: The gathering drinking strong spirits passing it around the room , Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons "Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike" License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/) (NEVER CAHNGE THIS FIELD)
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 2015

Gathering drinking strong spirits with students 2

  • Authors: Unnamed
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: UNCATALOGUED
  • Type: Video
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/303144 , vital:58298 , KHV-257
  • Description: The gathering drinking strong spirits passing it around the room , Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons "Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike" License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/) (NEVER CAHNGE THIS FIELD)
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 2015

Gathering drinking strong spirits with students 3

  • Authors: Unnamed
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: UNCATALOGUED
  • Type: Video
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/303155 , vital:58299 , KHV-258
  • Description: The gathering drinking strong spirits passing it around the room , Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons "Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike" License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/) (NEVER CAHNGE THIS FIELD)
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 2015

Gay men and fatherhood in South Africa: a discursive study

  • Authors: Morison, Tracy , Lynch, Ingrid , Reddy, Vasu
  • Date: 2015
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143782 , vital:38282 , https://ischp.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/ischp_2015_abstract_booklet.pdf
  • Description: There is little South African research on gender and sexual minorities’ reproductive decision-making and, to date, no published work explicitly focused on gay men. Motivated by the virtual absence of gay men in research, as well as their marginalisation more generally, we undertook a qualitative investigation of gay men’s thoughts, feelings and perspectives of fatherhood, fatherhood decisions, and experiences of pathways to parenthood. Framed by a reproductive justice perspective, the aim of the study was not only to generate new knowledge, but also to inform policy, services, and advocacy. In this paper we present some of the findings from our discursive analysis of participants’ accounts of their own experiences of the pathway to parenthood or remaining ‘childfree’. We locate our analysis within the broader South African context and show how the entanglement of various social identity markers - particularly gender, race, and class - come to bear on participants’ experiences.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Gene expression analysis of Thaumatotibia leucotreta in response to the Cryptophlebia leucotreta granulovirus

  • Authors: Ridgeway, Jaryd Antony
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Gene expression , Insects -- Viruses , Tortricidae -- Viruses
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:5931 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017809
  • Description: Gene expression studies provide baseline information on the interactions of insects with their environment. Despite the importance of this information, limited gene expression data are available for most insect pests, including the family Tortricidae (Lepidoptera), which includes Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyr), an important agricultural pest in Africa. Because T. leucotreta can be controlled successfully by a granulovirus, this system is a good model for exploring insect-virus susceptibility. The main aim of this study was to investigate gene expression of T. leucotreta in responce to virus infection. However, before pursuing this aim, two objectives required completion. First, the most suitable RNA extraction method for insects needed to be determined and second, the most suitable reference genes for qPCR for Tortricidae pests needed to be identified. Once these objectives were accomplished, the response of T. leucotreta to its granulovirus was evaluated at different temperatures and points after infection.Four RNA extraction methods, the RNeasy® Mini Kit, SV Total RNA isolation system, TRIzol® reagent, and a CTAB-based method, were compared using two beetle and two moth species, including T. leucotreta. The quality of extracted RNA was similar for all four species for all extraction methods. Based on several criteria, the best RNA extraction method was the SV Total RNA isolation system. Six candidate reference genes were evaluated for qPCR using different tissue types of T. leucotreta and two other Tortricidae pests. Additionally, reference genes were evaluated for T. leucotreta with and without its granulovirus at different temperatures. Reference gene stability was found to be dependent on species and tissue type. Overall the most suitable combination of reference genes for T. leucotreta were α-actin, arginine kinase and elongation factor 1-α.Gene expression of T. leucotreta in response to granulovirus infection at different temperatures and intervals after infection was evaluated by qPCR using 13 target genes associated with the infection process. Most genes were down-regulated after 24 and 48 h.p.i. However, after 72 h.p.i most genes were up-regulated. The same trend was observed at different temperatures, where most genes were down-regulated at 15°C and 25°C but up-regulated at 35°C. These results show that there is a dynamic gene expression response in T. leucotreta due to granulovirus infection under different conditions. Not only do these findings provide insight into the control of this tortricid pest, they also contribute further to our knowledge of insect-virus interactions.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Generalizations of some fixed point theorems in banach and metric spaces

  • Authors: Niyitegeka, Jean Marie Vianney
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Fixed point theory , Banach spaces , Mappings (Mathematics)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5265 , vital:20828
  • Description: A fixed point of a mapping is an element in the domain of the mapping that is mapped into itself by the mapping. The study of fixed points has been a field of interests to mathematicians since the discovery of the Banach contraction theorem, i.e. if is a complete metric space and is a contraction mapping (i.e. there exists such that for all ), then has a unique fixed point. The Banach contraction theorem has found many applications in pure and applied mathematics. Due to fixed point theory being a mixture of analysis, geometry, algebra and topology, its applications to other fields such as physics, economics, game theory, chemistry, engineering and many others has become vital. The theory is nowadays a very active field of research in which many new theorems are published, some of them applied and many others generalized. Motivated by all of this, we give an exposition of some generalizations of fixed point theorems in metric fixed point theory, which is a branch of fixed point theory about results of fixed points of mappings between metric spaces, where certain properties of the mappings involved need not be preserved under equivalent metrics. For instance, the contractive property of mappings between metric spaces need not be preserved under equivalent metrics. Since metric fixed point theory is wide, we limit ourselves to fixed point theorems for self and non-self-mappings on Banach and metric spaces. We also take a look at some open problems on this topic of study. At the end of the dissertation, we suggest our own problems for future research.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Genetic and biological characterisation of a novel Plutella xylostella granulovirus, PlxyGV-SA

  • Authors: Abdulkadir, Fatima , Knox, Caroline M , Marsberg, Tamryn , Hill, Martin P , Moore, Sean D
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/417971 , vital:71498 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-015-9666-3"
  • Description: Plutella xylostella granulovirus (PlxyGV) has been isolated from insect populations in many countries and is considered a potential biopesticide for sustainable control of P. xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). Several PlxyGV isolates have been genetically characterised, and the full genome sequence of PlxyGV-Japan is available for comparison with novel isolates. A South African PlxyGV was recently recovered from an overcrowded laboratory P. xylostella colony and identified as a genetically distinct isolate by sequencing of the granulin gene and restriction endonuclease (REN) analysis of genomic DNA. In this report, PlxyGV-SA was further characterised by PCR amplification and sequencing of egt, lef-8 and lef-9 genes, and several amino acid substitutions were observed. The PstI REN profile of PlxyGV-SA was different from that of PlxyGV-Japan in terms of band size and number, thereby confirming its novel genetic identity. Surface dose bioassays showed that PlxyGV-SA is pathogenic to neonate but not late instar larvae at the same and higher virus doses, indicating that a biopesticide should be targeted at early larval stages in the field.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Geological and geophysical investigation of the South Eastern Karoo Basin, South Africa

  • Authors: Baiyegunhi, Christopher
  • Date: 2015
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Geology)
  • Identifier: vital:11532 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021280
  • Description: Geological and geophysical methods were used to investigate the southeastern Karoo Basin of South Africa in an area extending from longitudes 24 o E to 29o E and latitudes 32o S to 35o S. This was undertaken in order to reveal geologic structures, isochore thicknesses of the geologic sequence and their variations across the study area, proffer the possible provenance of the sediments and assess the potential of oil and gas accumulation. The methodology used includes field investigation, rock sampling, preparation of thin sections, petrographic studies, X-ray diffraction analysis, density measurements, porosity calculations, extraction of elevation data from Google Earth, 2½ D gravity profile modelling, generating of isochore (true vertical) thicknesses and depositional surfaces maps from the models, PetroMod 1D modelling and qualitative interpretation of magnetic, gravity and radiometric maps.Petrographic study was carried out on twenty six thin sections of rocks from the eleven geologic formations that cover the study area. Petrographic studies on the diamictite of the Dwyka Group shows abundance of monocrystalline quartz, granite and quartzite components in the breccias which possibly indicate the existence of granitic and metamorphic rocks in the source areas. The sandstones of the Ecca and Beaufort Groups are immature, greywacke and the heavy mineral assemblages signify that the minerals are of granitic, volcanic and metamorphic origin. The magnetic maps show two main magnetic anomalies, a major one trending in a northeast to southwest direction which is part of the Beattie magnetic anomaly and another that is a “bean-shaped” anomaly. The radially averaged power spectrum shows two depths to magnetic sources. The first depth is about 0.6 km which is the average depth to the top of the shallow sources, while the average depth to the top of the deep sources is about 15 km. The shallow sources are connected to magnetic minerals within the Beaufort Group while deep magnetic sources were inferred to be in the basement. The gamma ray spectrometric map shows areas with relatively high gamma radiation count. The high radiation count is possibly due to the uranium and thorium in the detrital materials, as well as the enrichment of radioelements in the feldspars (k-feldspar), calcite, quartz, zircon and clay minerals in the fluvial channel sandstones of the Beaufort Group. A total of two hundred and fifty-eight (258) rock samples were collected in the field and densities (dry, wet and grain densities) and porosities were determined in the laboratory. The Karoo Supergroup density values range from 2.526 – 2.828 g/cm3. The average porosities range from 0. 49 – 3.31 %. The dry densities and porosities of all the formations are inversely correlated with correlation coefficient values (R) that range from 0.9491 - 0.9982. The density of the dolerite intrusions (mostly sill) ranges from 2.700 – 2.837 g/cm3 whilst the porosity range from 0.1118 – 0.3868 %. The Bouguer anomaly map shows an increase in gravity values from -140.7 mGal in inland to about 60.1 mGal in coastal areas. This dominant gravity variation is inferred to be due to a deeper basement and/or Moho that get shallower from inland towards the coast. The Moho is at about 45 km depth inland and shallows to about 42 km at the coast. The 2½ D gravity modelling was done for fourteen (14) profiles with each profile having three (3) models corresponding to minimum, average and maximum densities to obtain the thicknesses of the geologic sequence. The current isochore thicknesses extracted from the gravity models show that the Beaufort Group is the thickest of all the groups that make up the Karoo Supergroup with maximum vertical thickness of up to 634 m, followed by the Ecca and Dwyka Groups with maximum vertical thicknesses of about 3207 m and 727 m, respectively. The maximum elevation for the Dwyka, Ecca and Beaufort sediments are about 500 m, 400 m and 285 m, respectively, whilst the maximum depth below sea level are around 8500 m, 7000 m and 5500 m, respectively. The PetroMod1D model result yield average vitrinite reflectance and temperature values of about 6 % and 500 ℃ respectively for the lower Ecca Group which belong to the dry gas window based on classification by several authors. Thus the rocks of the lower Ecca Group are thermally matured for hydrocarbon (shale gas) generation that can merit gas exploration in the Karoo Basin.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2015

Geomorphic and ambient environmental impacts on lichen distribution on two inland Nunataks in western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

Getting down to toyi-toyi

  • Authors: Thomas, Cornelius
  • Date: 2015
  • Type: Image
  • Identifier: vital:8052 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020548
  • Description: On Wednesday, 21 October 2015, Rhodes University closed in solidarity with the higher education sector as students and staff embarked on nationwide protest action against the shortage of funding in the South African higher education sector. #FeesMustFall is a national student led protest movement that began in mid-October 2015 in response to proposed increases in fees at South African universities. These images depict the peaceful march and illustrate the extent of solidarity among staff, students and community members who joined in support of the protest.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Global Cicada Sound Collection I: Recordings from South Africa and Malawi by BW Price and MH Villet and harvesting of BioAcoustica data by GBIF

  • Authors: Baker, Ed , Price, Benjamin W , Rycroft, Simon , Villet, Martin H
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: To be catalogued
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/441420 , vital:73886 , https://bdj.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=5792
  • Description: Sound collections for singing insects provide important repositories that underpin existing research (eg Price et al. 2007 at http://bio. acousti. ca/node/11801; Price et al. 2010) and make bioacoustic collections available for future work, including insect communication (Ordish 1992), systematics (eg David et al. 2003), and automated identification (Bennett et al. 2015). The BioAcoustica platform (Baker et al. 2015) is both a repository and analysis platform for bioacoustic collections: allowing collections to be available in perpetuity, and also facilitating complex analyses using the BioVeL cloud infrastructure (Vicario et al. 2011). The Global Cicada Sound Collection is a project to make recordings of the world's cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) available using open licences to maximise their potential for study and reuse. This first component of the Global Cicada Sound Collection comprises recordings made between 2006 and 2008 of Cicadidae in South Africa and Malawi.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Global Handbook of Quality of Life: exploration of well-being of nations and continents

  • Authors: Glatzer, Wolfgang , Camfield, Laura , Moller, Valerie , Rojas, Mariano
  • Date: 2015
  • Language: English
  • Type: text , book
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67245 , vital:29063 , https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9178-6
  • Description: publisher version , This handbook provides a comprehensive historical account of the field of Quality of Life. It brings together theoretical insights and empirical findings, and presents the main items of global quality of life and wellbeing research. Worldwide in its scope of topics, the handbook examines discussions of demographic and health development, the spread of democracy, global economic accounting, multi-item measurement of perceived satisfaction and expert-assessed quality of life, and the well-being of children, women and poor people. It looks at well-being in specific regions, including North and Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, South America, and Eastern and Western Europe. In addition to contributions by leading and younger authors, the handbook includes contributions from International Organizations about their own work with respect to social reporting.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Glycolytic potential and meat quality from dorper and merino sheep slaughtered at a commercial abattoir

  • Authors: Stempa, Thuthuzelwa
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Slaughtering and slaughter-houses Meat -- Quality
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15310 , vital:40361
  • Description: The objective of the study was to determine glycolytic potential and meat quality from Dorper and Merino sheep of both sexes slaughtered at a commercial abattoir. Dorper (n=52) and Merino (n= 48) breeds aged eight years, consisting of 50 intact rams and 50 non-pregnant ewes were used in the study. The sheep used in the study were reared, transported and lairised under identical conditions. Blood samples were collected at exsanguination for the measurement of glucose, lactate and cortisol levels. Samples were also collected from the Muscularis longmissius thoracis et lumborum (LTL) for the measurement glycogen, lactate levels, pH decline and colour. Correlations amongst blood stress indicators, muscle metabolites and meat quality attributes were also determined. Sex and breed had no effect on muscle glycolytic potential, glycogen and lactate levels from Dorper and Merino sheep of both sexes at the abattoir. Although sex and breed had an effect on pre-slaughter stress indicators (lactate and cortisol) collected at exsanguination. Ewes had higher levels of blood lactate (7.4 3 ± 0.49 mmol/L) and cortisol (293.92 ± 14.32 nmol/L) than the rams which had (5.19 ± 0.49 mmol/L) and (179.50 ± 14.32 nmol/L) lactate and cortisol levels, respectively. Furthermore, higher levels of lactate were observed in Dorper (7.54 ± 0.42 mmol/L) compared to the Merino sheep (4.97 ± 0.49 mmol/L). Meat pH decline and colour were also significantly affected by sex and breed. Ewes had higher levels of at pH45 minutes post slaughter (7.05 ± 0.04), pH3 hours (6.45 ± 0.04) , pH24 hours (6.00 ± 0.03), a* (14.31 ± 0.33) , b* (8.84 ± 0.29), H* (31.47 ± 0.73) and C* (16.75 ± 0.24) compared to the rams which had pH45 minutes (6.44 ± 0.04), pH3 hours (6.12 ± 0.04), pH24 hours (5.88 ± 0.03), a* (12.25 ± 0.33), b* (7.00 ± 0.29), H* (29.36 ± 0.73) and C* (14.15 ± 0.42) values. Moreover, Merino sheep had higher levels of L* (38.17 ± 0.48) and H* (31.59 ± 0.74) compared to the Dorper which had (36.39 ± 0.46) and (29.33 ± 0.71) L* and H* values, respectively. Blood cortisol was also positively correlated (P < 0.05) to glucose (r = 0.27), lactate (r = 0.37) but was negatively correlated (P < 0.001) to meat lightness (r = -0.44). Furthermore, blood cortisol was positively correlated (P < 0.001) to pH45 (r = 0.34), pH24 (r =0.22), meat yellowness (r = 0.24) and chroma (r = 0.37), but was negatively correlated to meat lightness (r = -0.47). Glycolytic potential was positively correlated (P < 0.001) to muscle glycogen levels (r = 0.66) and muscle lactate (r = 0.71).
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Going green: the impact of integrated sustainability reporting within JSE companies

  • Authors: Nkosi, Jabulani Elias
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Sustainable development , Environmental policy
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9129 , vital:26467
  • Description: The world is threatened by the possibility of an irreversible catastrophe that many would blame on the environmental impact of the present lifestyle, the results of which are climate change or global warming. This is clearly unacceptable to both present and future generations. If going green really means changing the way we live and pursuing knowledge and practices that can lead to more environmentally friendly and socio-ecologically responsible decisions, it is time to protect the environment and sustain its natural resources for current and future generations. Integrated sustainability reporting should be viewed as a vehicle to accomplish this global agenda of going green beyond mere legal requirements. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of integrated sustainability reporting (ISR) on achieving green business status within JSE listed companies. To achieve the purpose, an in-depth literature study and empirical research were undertaken using a triangulation method. After a detailed descriptive and content analysis of the collected primary and secondary data, the study found the following: Most of the JSE listed corporations’ integrated reports are not utilising the CSR, GRI guidelines and voluntary standards as effective tools to drive the process of green sustainable business. Some of the JSE listed organisations are treating financial and non-financial matters as separate issues in their integrated reports; The ISR has no impact in terms of using the NEMA framework in driving the process of green sustainable business in the JSE listed organisations; Most of the JSE listed organisations were fully aware of ecological sustainability as a pillar to drive the process of green sustainable business. They treat this pillar of sustainable development as a separate entity from socio-economic developmental issues. Most of the JSE listed corporations adhere to all the bylaws and regulations of ecological sustainability within their required certification of ISO 14001 standards in order to remain effectively certified by the auditing authority. Some integrated reports indicated much support for staff in terms of health, educational activities, labour laws and programmes that advance the socio-economic aspects of human beings; The study has found that the social pillar of sustainability is mostly supported by JSE listed organisations in South Africa - to the level of the requirements of labour relations legislation. It is not integrated with sustainability policies beyond the statutory requirements; It was further noticed in this study that integrated sustainability reports, based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) principles and the King III reporting guidelines, disclose outcomes and results regarding the JSE listed organisations’ obligations, strategy and management approach which occurred within the reporting period. To address the above-listed findings, the researcher recommended that the JSE listed organisations integrate the NEMA, EMS, CSR, GRI and King III guidelines in their integrated sustainability reporting, in order to produce an effective sustainable green business in South Africa that is ecologically accountable and socio-economically supportive to all multi-stakeholders. The government and non-governmental organisations are the key players to drive the process of going green using the ISR. The government needs more structured policies and regulations that will support the National Development Plan in the pursuit of green economy in the form of grants and incentives that are beyond the present status quo.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Gqirha singing and dancing

  • Authors: Unnamed
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: UNCATALOGUED
  • Type: Video
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/303074 , vital:58288 , KHV-250
  • Description: Traditional healer speaking followed by dancing and singing , Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons "Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike" License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/) (NEVER CAHNGE THIS FIELD)
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 2015

Gqirha washing apparel in traditional drink

  • Authors: Unnamed
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: UNCATALOGUED
  • Type: Video
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/303079 , vital:58289 , KHV-251
  • Description: Traditional healer washing apparel in traditional drink , Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons "Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike" License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/) (NEVER CAHNGE THIS FIELD)
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 2015

Gqirha's change attire, singing and dancing in circle

  • Authors: Unnamed
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: UNCATALOGUED
  • Type: Video
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/303184 , vital:58303 , KHV-261
  • Description: Traditional healers change attire, singing and dancing in a circle , Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons "Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike" License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/) (NEVER CAHNGE THIS FIELD)
  • Full Text: false
  • Date Issued: 2015

Graduateness and employability: a case of one polytechnic in Zimbabwe

  • Authors: Mutirwara, Miriam
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Occupational training Employees -- Training -- Zimbabwe College graduates -- Employment -- Zimbabwe
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6125 , vital:29493
  • Description: The study explored the domains of graduateness and employability at one polytechnic in Zimbabwe. The focus was on how instructional delivery strategies and assessment tools could embed domains of graduateness and employer expectations. A phenomenological research approach was used in conducting the study. This qualitative research paradigm allowed the research to take place in a natural setting which enabled a holistic picture and use of an inductive mode of inquiry through the researcher’s immersion in the research setting. Human capital, teaching methods and flexible training models, among others, emerged as major strengths in training. However, these key strengths were marred by unprofessional practices and limited resources. In assessment, proficiency schedules, trade testing and use of external assessors emerged as key strengths. Pertaining to the curriculum, it emerged that on paper, curriculum specifications and design for implementation appeared relevant to the production of a graduate exhibiting attributes of graduateness. It however emerged that there was need to revisit the hidden curriculum, as training was dependent on the availability of resources. The study proposes a framework for promoting graduateness and enhancing employability through creation of mutual partnerships to collectively develop a curriculum that is acceptable to institutions and industry. Moreover, graduateness domains should be enshrined in the curriculum. A need for strategic selection of teaching and assessment methods which promote critical thinking, interaction, decision making and retention of information was identified. Major recommendations are that institutions should align themselves with market demands and technological changes to ensure employability. Institutions should also prepare graduates for transition to the world of work, by rendering adequate preparation through teaming up with industry and the use of appropriate teaching methodology.
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  • Date Issued: 2015

Green procurement for municipal construction projects

  • Authors: Maboza, Luthando Sithembele
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Sustainable construction , Construction industry -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3165 , vital:20407
  • Description: The study is a qualitative investigation of the implementation of green procurement in the construction sector at Local Government level. The focus is on the Metropolitan Municipalities of EThekwini, Nelson Mandela Bay and City of Cape Town. For the purpose of realising an extended comparative perspective, an additional three smaller municipalities were also reviewed. Green procurement is the tool used by governments to source the supply of products and services that are environmentally friendly to counter the global problem of climate change. The study commences with the exposition of the aspects of green procurement from the basis of the enabling legal framework to the scholarly contribution from which the study can be predicated. It becomes apparent from this review of legislation that there is a scope within the existing body of legislation for the use of green procurement as an environmental tool. Scholarly work addresses adoption of green procurement and considers, inter alia, the Bottom-up Approach, the Top-down Approach, and the Procura + Milestones model. Literature indicates that development has a negative impact on the environment, which includes vegetation loss, illegal dumping, and greenhouse gas emissions. Further, the literature recommends green lifecycle design and production of construction projects to reduce the impact of construction on the environment. A systematic investigation of municipalities by means of interviews with relevant municipal officials involved with the procurement of products and services, infrastructure services and environmental affairs officials made it possible to identify factors that impact on the implementation of green procurement. The investigation finds that the major obstacles to green procurement are socio-economic challenges that confront municipalities, lack of policy, and lack of awareness. Recommendations include the proposal of initiatives that encourage and improve the implementation of green procurement. The study hopes to inspire innovation in the implementation of green procurement in the construction sector.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2015
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