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Deconstructing decolonising in the context of a South African higher education institution
No full textDecolonisation at its different levels and stages is a movement that started around the sixties and has swept across all continents of the world. However, there has been a re-invigoration of this movement in recent years on the African continent, particularly in the education sector. This took a different turn in South Africa in late 2015 when the #Mustfall movement started. Different institutions responded to this in a frenzy and the result was absolute chaos in both the understanding of the subject and response to it. About eight years later many academics are still grappling with the meaning of the consult and how to go about decolonising in higher education. Though there is a dearth of academic writing on the subject particularly in South Africa, this has translated to little action and the vestiges of colonialism remain. This paper sought to deconstruct decolonisation from an institutional perspective and theorise how the same can be made to unfold within the stratosphere. This study was designed as a qualitative case study of a South African University and used interviews as the data generation method. The findings indicated that decolonisation is about politics, language, and identity, not forgetting an element of confusion. The paper concluded that decolonisation has to transcend individual understandings of the same to deal with all facets of the higher education sector. It, therefore, recommended the adoption of a holistic approach to dealing with decolonisation and an overall improvement in the understanding of lecturers on decolonisation. This paper makes a vital contribution to the body of knowledge by articulating the conflicting understandings that exist and the confusion it breeds. It also points to the lack of decolonisation within the higher education space
Functional materials for solar thermophotovoltaic devices in energy conversion applications : a review
No full textIn recent years, the demand for energy that caters for the socio-economic needs on Earth has led to the use of fossil fuels which currently satisfy over 80% of this demand, however, the drawback of this source of energy includes; lack of economical sustainability and environmental pollution. Consequently, renewable energy sources such as wind, biomass, hydro, geothermal, tidal and solar energy were introduced as alternative consumable fuels to mitigate detrimental climate changes caused by fossil fuels. Furthermore, the abundance of direct sunshine amongst these renewable sources has made solar energy one of the most preferred alternative sources of renewable energy. Solar energy can supply the Earth with the energy it needs because radiant solar energy moves at 186,000 miles per second hence, the energy produced comprising helium and hydrogen gas that touches the Earth in an hour is enough to supply the Earth for an entire year. However, only less than 1% of this energy is extracted and converted to generate electricity, attributed to the challenges of the solar cells. Notably, the conventional conversion of solar energy to electricity is through solar thermal systems and photovoltaics. Nonetheless, there are difficulties in converting the solar energy extracted from these systems to electricity. This literature reviews a comprehensive study of solar thermophotovoltaic devices and the high-tech material used in solar thermophotovoltaic systems as a solution to the conversion challenge by converting the solar energy to heat first, before converting the heat to electricity as opposed the conventional conversion techniques of the direct conversion to electricity
Practical stability of Caputo fractional dynamic equations on time scale
No full textThis paper presents a novel approach to analyzing the practical stability of Caputo fractional dynamic
equations on time scales, utilizing a new generalized derivative known as the Caputo fractional delta derivative
and the Caputo fractional delta Dini derivative of order
(01). This generalized derivative provides a unified
framework for analyzing dynamic systems across both continuous and discrete time domains, making it suitable
for hybrid systems exhibiting both gradual and abrupt changes. By incorporating memory effects inherent in
fractional-order systems, this derivative is particularly suited to practical stability analysis, where deviations from equilibrium are permitted within acceptable limits. The established practical stability results are demonstrated through an illustrative example
Sports sponsorship, brand image, and purchase intentions toward sponsors’ products
No full textPurpose: This paper examines the relationship between sports sponsorship and brand image concerning soccer fans’ purchase intentions, focusing on how various elements of sponsorship and brand image influence fans’ purchasing behaviour. Design/methodology/approach: Data was collected from 398 soccer fans in the Greater Accra Region and the Ashanti Region of Ghana and analysed using structural equation modeling tools derived from Structural Modeling Analysis Using Partial Least Squares (SMARTPLS). Findings: The study demonstrates that sports sponsorship positively and significantly impacts both brand image (coefficient = 0.722; p-value = 0.001 < 0.05) and purchase intention (coefficient = 0.296; p-value = 0.001 < 0.05). Furthermore, brand image not only has direct positive influences on purchase intention (B = 0.372; p-value = 0.000 < 0.05) but also mediates the relationship between sponsorship and purchase intention (B = 0.268; t = 4.098; p-value = 0.000 < 0.05). Overall, these findings confirm all four study hypotheses. Practical Implication: Sponsors can apply these findings when selecting sports events or teams to partner with, ensuring alignment with the brand's identity. Strategic partnerships may enhance the perceived brand image among the audience, thereby increasing the likelihood of influencing purchase decisions. Research Contribution: This study suggests that favourable purchase intentions are more likely when soccer fans hold a positive image of the sponsoring companies and a strong affinity for the sport. These findings underscore the importance of well-planned sports sponsorship strategies in shaping brand perception and driving consumer behaviour among soccer enthusiasts
AI-driven self-service for enhanced customer experience outcomes in the banking sector
No full textthis study examines the influencing value factors of artificial intelligence (ai)-based
self-service technology delivery, self-service customer experience, and outcomes based
on customer value theory and trust-commitment theory. this study adopted a
quantitative research approach. Four hundred and twenty-two bank customers who use
ai-based self-service technology were sampled for the study. structural equation
modelling was employed to analyse the data. the study reveals that personalisation
influences ai-based self-service customer experience, and convenience significantly and
positively predicts ai-based self-service customer experience. time spent, and ai-based
self-service customer experience yielded significantly positive results. ai-based customer
trust and self-service customer brands also had a significant positive relationship.
however, the study did not find support for aesthetic and ai-based self-service customer
experience. this study’s novelty is identifying the customer value factors that influence
ai-based self-service experience in an emerging country using the customer Value
theory (cVt) and trust-commitment theory (tct) frameworks
Tectona grandis capped silver-nanoparticle material effects on microbial strains inducing microbiologically influenced corrosion
No full textThis paper investigates Tectona grandis-capped silver nanoparticle material effects on the microbial strains inducing microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of metals. Leaf-extract from Tectona grandis natural plant was used as a precursor for the synthesis of silver-nanoparticle material, which was characterised by a scanning electron microscopy having Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy (SEM + EDS) facility. Sensitivity and resistance studies by the synthesized Tectona grandis capped silver nanoparticle material on three Gram-positive and three Gram-negative, thus totalling six, MIC inducing microbial strains were then studied and compared with what was obtained from a control antibiotic chemical. Results showed that all the microbial strains studied were sensitive to the Tectona grandis capped silver nanoparticle materials whereas two strains of microbes, a Gram-positive and a Gram-negative strain, were resistant to the commercial antibiotic chemical. These results suggest positive prospects on Tectona grandis capped silver nanoparticle usage in corrosion control/protection applications on metallic materials for the microbial corrosion environment.</jats:p
Superfluid stars and Q-balls in curved spacetime
No full textWithin the framework of the theory of strongly-interacting quantum Bose liquids, we consider a general relativistic model of self-interacting complex scalar fields with logarithmic nonlinearity taken from dense superfluid models. We demonstrate the existence of gravitational equilibria in this model, described by spherically symmeric nonsingular finite-mass asymptotically-flat solutions. These equilibrium configurations can describe both massive astronomical objects, such as bosonized superfluid stars or cores of neutron stars, and finite-size particles and non-topological solitons, such as Q-balls. We give an estimate for masses and sizes of such objects
Robotic gamification model for climate change literacy for green innovation and entrepreneurship education
Get PDFSubmitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2025.This thesis proposes a Robotic Gamification Model for Climate Change Literacy for Green Innovation
and Entrepreneurship (RGM-4-CCL4GIE) education, as a sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) contextualized
innovative educational solution. Current gamification designs in educational settings often fail to sustain
long-term learner motivation and engagement, in that they rely predominantly on predictable extrinsic
reward schemes. While these systems can generate initial interest, they struggle to maintain engagement
over time, leading to diminished learning outcomes. This challenge is particularly critical in the context
of complex, evolving subjects such as climate change education, in which continuous learner involvement
is essential for fostering lasting awareness and actionable outcomes. To address this gap in gamification
systems design, this research proposes a RGM-4-CCL4GIE education. The model draws upon concepts
from the Self-determination Theory, the Operant Conditioning Theory (OCT), and the MechanicsDynamics-Aesthetics (MDA) framework, to create a dynamic system that enables sustained intrinsic
motivation and learner engagement. The RGM-4-CCL4GIE education incorporates a randomized badgeawarding plugin which is an intrinsic reward mechanism. This model includes interactive assessments
infused with points as gamification elements, utilizing the social robot Nao to enhance learner interaction.
This is particularly necessary in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where climate literacy is critical for mitigating
the socio-economic impacts of climate change. The study employs a Design Science Research
Methodology (DSR) to guide the development and validation of the model, which is prototyped on the
Moodle e-learning platform and the social robot Nao (SRN). The system’s gamification components such
as points, badges, and dynamic rewards are integrated into both desktop and robotic platforms to foster
sustained intrinsic motivation and long-term engagement in climate-change literacy and green-innovation
entrepreneurship. The RGM-4-CCL4GIE was evaluated with 20 university students, revealing enhanced
sustained intrinsic motivation (mean score of 4.58) and long-term engagement (95%). The evaluation data
reflected strong positive perceptions, with all subscales (motivation, user engagement, perceived
usefulness, perceived ease of use, aesthetics) scoring above 4 (on a 5-point scale), showing significant
differences from the neutral point (p 1.77). Individual items
reflected high agreement on motivation (e.g., “inspires me to continue training”, M=4.75), engagement
(e.g., random badges, 95% agreement, p < 0.001), usefulness (e.g., understanding climate change, 75%
strongly agree), ease of use (M=4.65), and aesthetics (NAO robot, 95% agreement). Expert evaluation
(n=11) further validated the system, with strong ratings for gamification elements (means 4.27-4.55), Carbon Literacy content (4.45-4.64), and HCI (4.27-4.64), although navigation showed slightly more
varied opinions (SD=0.78). These findings demonstrate the RGM-4-CCL4GIE’s potential to address
limitations of existing gamification systems by promoting sustained motivation and engagement, thus
achieving learning outcomes.
In offering the innovative approach that combines robotics and gamification with motivational theories,
this research contributes to the advancement of educational gamification. The study shows how the
theories are combined to generate the robotic gamification theoretical framework, with specific relevance
to climate change education. The study not only bridges gaps in current gamification systems but also
provides a foundation for future research into sustainable, technology-driven learning models. Through
its integration of robotic interaction, random rewards, and motivational frameworks, the RGM-4-
CCL4GIE offers a new approach to educational gamification, particularly in addressing the challenges
of sustained motivation and long-term engagement in climate-change education.
Federated clouds : a new metric for measuring the quality of data anonymization
Get PDFFederated cloud has emerged as solution for cloud service providers to get scalability in serving the growing demand for cloud resources. In a federated cloud, a cloud member can provide service or request it from other cloud provider members in the federation. The federation enables its cloud provider members to be able to satisfy a service beyond the resources they owned by using the resources market in the federation. Data privacy is a major concern in federated clouds. As the privacy regulations and laws of the countries in the federation may vary, it is difficult to assess and confirm that they are in compliance. This makes protecting privacy even more challenging. Privacy management strategies primarily involve anonymization, cryptography, and data splitting. Anonymization is the traditional approach to preserving privacy, which aims at masking the link between the quasi-identifier and sensitive data. The most widely used anonymization techniques are k-anonymity, l-diversity and t-closeness. However, there is a lack of a formal metric to measure the quality of the anonymization process in terms of its ability to prevent re-identification. This paper examines the issue of assessing anonymization quality and introduces a new metric, Mmaq, for this purpose. It can be used to evaluate the anonymization of one or multiple attributes. The metric is a combination of the Shannon index, which measures diversity, and a stabilizer factor, which corrects the Shannon index for pathological cases. The initial results suggest that Mmaq can be used to classify attributes as identifier, quasi-identifier, and anonymous. Furthermore, it can be employed as a Cloud Privacy Policy anonymization compliance checker
Re-engineering sociological constellations for higher education in South Africa
Get PDFHigher education in South Africa has experienced a number
of challenges for the past three decades: from the days of
apartheid to post-apartheid South Africa, to the challenges
of transforming the higher education landscape. The merger
of several South African higher education institutions in 2004
created a plethora of challenges to add to the already existing
ones. These challenges were political, sociological, structural
and fiscal in nature. The desire to address these challenges has
in a way created an epistemological backlog where access to
higher education has increased drastically but epistemological
access remains a challenge. These amongst other things
fuelled the decolonisation movement which demanded for
the decolonisation of knowledge. However, the decolonisation
of knowledge amongst other things cannot be effective
or complete without a re-engineering of the sociology of
education. this chapter articulates a pathway for the re
engineering of the sociology of education by articulating four
sociological constellations