7490 research outputs found
Sort by
Main thesis title: Exploring undergraduate nursing students’ post-COVID-19 pandemic academic learning experiences at a public nursing education institution in Nelson Mandela Bay
No full textGlobally, COVID-19 has not only affected public health socially, but also affected teaching and learning in higher education institutions, including nursing education institutions. COVID-19 pandemic learning experiences of undergraduate nursing students have been marked by challenges, resilience, and adaptability. The transition from face-to-face to online learning, disruptions in theoretical classroom learning, and in practical learning in clinical placements, had an emotional toll on students with lasting impact, and did not only shape undergraduate nursing students’ educational journey. The transition also brought about benefits, including enhanced self-directedness, student confidence, and increased access to information. It is essential to recognize and address the unique needs of these nursing students in the post–COVID 19 pandemic era, providing them with the support and resources necessary for their professional development. However, little is known on the learning experiences of undergraduate nursing students post-COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to explore and describe undergraduate nursing students’ post-COVID 19 pandemic academic learning experiences at a public nursing education institution (NEI) in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) to make recommendations for strengthening student support services, thereby contributing to nursing education teaching and learning. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory underpinned the research. A qualitative, exploratory-descriptive, and contextual design was used. The study was conducted at a public NEI in NMB. A purposive, non-probability sampling was used to select undergraduate nursing students enrolled at the NEI. Four face-to-face, semi-structured focus group discussions with a total of 29 undergraduate nursing students were facilitated by an independent trained fieldworker, while the researcher served as observer. Thematic analysis, in line with Braune and Clarke (2007), was done by an independent coder. Four major themes derived from the data were: (1) Participants describe their academic learning experiences during and post the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) Participants experienced challenges in academic learning post -COVID 19 pandemic; (3) Participants explained what facilitates academic learning in the post COVID -19 pandemic era, and (4) Participants’ give recommendations for effective learning post the COVID -19Thesis (MCur) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Care & Medicinal Sciences, 202
The five stages of grief: perceptions of its Relevance within the South African context
Full text linkDeath and the grief that accompanies it are universal human experiences. However, the perception of these events varies significantly from context to context, with nuances in their expression. The Five Stage Model of Grief, conceptualised by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, is accepted as a universal model of the death and grieving process, gaining global recognition and precedence over other theories and models of grief. However, the findings leading to the development of the Kübler-Ross model were based entirely on the observation of Western participants who were dying, not bereaved individuals, prompting questions about its generalisability generally and to experiences of grief specifically. This study aimed to address the gap in understanding the phenomenon of grief in South Africa by focusing on psychologists and their experiences of grief and the application of the Kübler-Ross model. The global South relies on traditions and rituals as part of the grieving process, which the Five Stages of Grief model does not fully encompass. The study thus aimed to explore the relevance of the Five Stages of Grief model in contemporary South African and global contexts from the perspective of psychologists who have primary experience with grief counselling. The population from which the sample was drawn were HPCSA-registered clinical and counselling psychologists as well as registered counsellors who work with clients experiencing death and grief. The study drew on the qualitative research method, focusing on understanding and discovering the meanings of experiences, behaviours, and individual life histories. The study found that the Kübler-Ross model has applicability to the South African context but that cultural experiences may produce the need for a more critical application of the stages of grief. The study concludes that the Kübler-Ross model can be utilised, provided it is done so with criticality and adapted to the cultural and religious belief systems from within which grief is being expressed.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural & Lifestyle Sciences, 202
The personality development of Kurt Cobain through an Erikson Ian Lens: a psychobiography
No full textThe objective of psychobiography is a better understanding of individuals, and these case studies add meaning and value to research. Kurt Cobain was chosen for this study through a purposiv e sampling method due to his contributions to the world of music as well as his enigmatic personality personality. The primary aim of this study was to present the reader with a basic description of his life, and a secondary aim was to accomplish an in in-depth analysis of Kurt Cobain’s personality through an Erik Erikson lens . Due to these aims and the nature of psychobiography, it may be said that this is a qualitative study based on a single case method, described as explorative and descriptive. Data was analysed accor ding to Miles, Huberman and Saldaña’s (2014) approach which consists of data reduction, data display and data verification. This study was guided by Erik Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development . The theory allowed for an in in-depth description of Cobain’s experiences and personality development throughout his lifetime lifetime.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural & Lifestyle Sciences, 202
A data governance framework to promote data trust within Nelson Mandela University
Full text linkData governance (DG) is a developing field that has garnered significant attention in recent years. DG includes persons accountable for data quality (the stewards), policies and processes related to data collection, management, storage, security, and reporting, regulatory compliance, and the information technology platforms and support that ensure efficient infrastructure. Higher education institutions are increasingly prioritising digital governance as we enter a stringent financial landscape that emphasises performance metrics, objectives, cost reduction, and accountability. Effective DG can help universities manage their institutional data by establishing frameworks, accountabilities, policies, procedures, guidelines and processes that leverage technology tools. In universities, data management issues regarding their information systems are a common problem, leading to erroneous and inconsistent data that hampers the effectiveness of these institutions. Insufficient handling of data content, records administration, quality, care, and governance contributes to these data management challenges. Additionally, previous studies have shown that many universities struggle to derive value from their data assets. This study attempts to bridge the gap by exploring the literature, common standards, comparative frameworks, challenges, and critical success factors pertaining to DG practices. By so doing, it provides a suggested data governance framework (DGF) drawn from the literature which focuses on elements of data governance to meet the objectives of the study. This research adopted a mixed-methods approach with a design science research methodology to gain a deep understanding of the subject area. Data collection involved a DG maturity assessment questionnaire and a focus group with key staff to determine the current level of data governance at Nelson Mandela University. Outputs from the data collections instruments were analysed and provide input to the model and the final DGF. This DGF aims to effectively guide, control, and manage the university’s DG efforts, mitigating risks, promoting effective data trust and management. This can aid universities to work towards ensuring that data is accurate, reliable, and consistent.Thesis (MPhil) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, School of Information Technology, 202
The necessity of business education for successful engineering leaders in South Africa
Full text linkThis research document examines the significance of business education for South African leaders. The research assesses the perspectives of aspiring and established engineering leaders on the necessity of business education to advance their professional careers and improve the country's socio-economic stance. Three secondary research objectives are established to answer the overarching primary research objective: to explore the perception, importance, and impact of business education for engineers in South Africa. The secondary research objectives seek to address the specific business skills and knowledge areas considered crucial for engineers in South Africa, to investigate the potential benefits of incorporating business education into the tertiary engineering curricula in South Africa, and to investigate whether the Master of Business Administration degree (MBA) could be a viable solution to the lack of business education for South African engineering leaders. This study sought to foster an understanding of how business education can enable South African engineers to thrive in leadership positions while stimulating the economy and innovation. In addressing these objectives, a qualitative research methodology was employed, and data was collected from a sample of fourteen engineers from different disciplines across the country. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted to obtain the data while following ethical procedures which ensured anonymity. Software technology, more specifically, Atlas.ti was utilised to uncover and establish various patterns and themes relative to the research objectives. The findings from the research indicated that business acumen is crucial. However, an MBA qualification is not necessarily deemed as essential, although it provides engineers with the crucial skills to equipping them to excel in their careers. Moreover, the integration of business education with the engineering curriculum highlighted the need to remain engineers and the probability of providing elective modules at honours level, National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 8, of an engineering qualification. It is important to bridge the gap between technical proficiency and business acumen to prepare engineers for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Additionally, the recommendations stress the importance of collaboration between university, industry and engineering regulatory bodies.Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 202
Coastal and marine tourism development: a conceptual framework for place-based marine spatial planning in the Wild Coast, Port St Johns
Full text linkThe launch of Operation Phakisa: Ocean Economy in 2014 by the South African Government heightened the focus and interest in the ocean as a catalyst to contribute towards South Africa’s lagging economic growth to reduce the pressing challenges of unemployment, poverty, and unequal participation in South Africa’s mainstream economy, particularly, those from previously disadvantaged groups (Odeku, 2021). Operation Phakisa identified six focus areas: marine transport and manufacturing, offshore oil and gas exploration, aquaculture, small harbour development, ocean governance and protection services, and coastal and marine tourism (Loureiro, Du Plessis, & Findlay, 2022). Each of these focus areas is attached to lead departments. Coastal and marine tourism is attached to the National Department of Tourism. After the oil and gas sector, coastal and marine tourism was identified as one of the fastest-growing ocean economy subsectors. With its potential to create much-needed jobs, promote small, medium and micro enterprise (SMME) participation, and contribute to the broader economy by implementing its nodal strategic approach, the Department of Tourism identified nodal zones to which coastal and marine tourism development projects would be intensely implemented. Port St Johns is one of the nodal zones that the department identified. With its unique, high biodiversity, which is attractive to tourists, Port St Johns has been marred with enormous challenges of unemployment, under-development, and high poverty rates. In addition, it has suffered from challenges of competing interests between development and environmental conservation groups enabled by the Transkein Environmental Conservation Decree 9 of 1992, which prohibits development projects within a one-kilometre radius from high water mark. This has resulted in conflicting views, leading to the demise of development, and further perpetuating socio-economic hardships and disparities. Due to similar challenges and with more actors venturing into the ocean economy space, the South African Government has followed the international practice of introducing a marine spatial planning approach to manage the distribution and allocation of spaces for human activities within and around marine and coastal environments. Marine spatial planning has been praised and promoted as the most suitable instrument to manage dynamic, diverse, and fragile environments such as marine and coastal environments. However, although marine spatial planning is touted as an instrument that promotes a participatory and democratic process, it has the potential to fall into the trap of other planning systems, which are top-down, negating the power imbalances amongst the stakeholders. Additionally, such planning regimes fail to recognise the local-centric and diverse interests, including local communities’ use of the marine and coastal resources in these areas. Thus, the current study developed a proposed conceptual framework to guide the development of place-based marine spatial plans to enhance coastal and marine tourism in Port St Johns. The proposed conceptual framework contains critical elements for marine spatial planning (MSP) planners to consider when developing marine spatial plans. The overarching theoretical approach that guides the framework is ecosystem services. This study employed a qualitative research approach, and interviews were used to obtain study participants’ perspectives. Participants were drawn from the Port St Johns Municipality, civil society organisations, development agencies, tourism forums, traditional leaders, councillors, communal property associations, and environmental agencies. Bringing together the perspectives of this diverse group helped to broaden the researcher’s perspective on Port St Johns’ dynamics regarding its challenges and opportunities. Furthermore, these perspectives enabled the development of the proposed conceptual framework for place-based MSP. Recommendations are made to test the proposed conceptual frameworks in developing place-based MSP in coastal cities such as Port St Johns to identify areas of concern for improvement where necessary.Thesis (D.Phil) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 202
Ligand-functionalized polymeric materials for adsorptive recovery of palladium from acidic solutions
Full text linkThe large volumes of wastewater generated from the refining process have common characteristics in terms of pH, high concentrations of chloride, nitrate, cyanides, and, very interestingly, low concentrations of PGMs. The environmental release of PGMs such as Pd(II) poses significant ecological and financial concerns. Thus, the current study intended to develop materials for selective recovery of Pd(II) to alleviate its loss from wastewater and potentially allow for water reuse in refineries or other related sources. Three functionalized Merrifield resins, namely 1,2-ethanedithiol (M-EDT), 1,2-benzenedithiol (M-BDT), and 2-benzimidazolylmethylthio acetic acid (M-BITAA), were synthesized for the recovery of PGMs from simulated solutions. The obtained functionalized resins were characterized by using FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, CHNS, TGA, and SEM. FTIR results showed that the framework structure of the pristine Merrifield was relatively retained after functionalization, but a significant decrease in intensities was observed for all functionalized resins at 684 cm-1 and 1268 cm-1 attributed to benzyl-Cl and CH2-Cl vibrations, respectively. UV-Vis also confirmed thepresence of polystyrene moiety associated with the benzene ring for pristine Merrifield and functionalized resins at 279 nm. CHNS further indicated that, amongst the functionalized resins, M-BITAA (80–50%) showed the highest degree of functionalization followed by M-EDT (40–30%) and M-BDT (8–5%), respectively. The CHNS results confirmed the ligand loading, indicating high functionalization degree for M-BITAA compared to M-EDT and M-BDT. SEM micrographs of the Merrifield resins showed that M-BITAA slightly increased in diameter compared to pristine and other functionalized resins. For metal ion adsorption, M-BITAA exhibited the highest capacity for Pd(II) with about 26 mg.g-1 ,while M-EDT and M-BDT reached only 7 and 3 mg.g-1, respectively. The adsorbents obeyed the Langmuir isotherm model and favoured pseudo-first order and Elovich kinetic models in 0.8 and 0.5 M HCl solutions. Batch adsorption further showed, in a competitive study, that M-BITAA was not selective for Pd(II) but also an attractive sorbent for other PGMs such as Pt(IV) and Ir(III), which may be advantageous for solutions containing these PGMs.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular & Chemical Sciences, 202
The influence of rain-fed organic and conventional crop farming systems on soil water content and water use efficiency in South Africa’s Southern Cape
Full text linkIn water-scarce regions, where droughts are frequent, efficient water use in agriculture is critical, especially in the context of climate change. This research investigates the effects of rain-fed organic and conventional monocrop and rotated crop farming practices on soil water retention and water use efficiency (WUE) at the Nelson Mandela Comparative Organic Farming Systems Research Trials, located at Nelson Mandela University’s George Campus in South Africa’s Southern Cape. The study compares the WUE of organic and conventional monocrop cabbage, as well as organic and conventional rotated cabbage, sweet potatoes, and cowpeas across four growing seasons (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18). Soil water content (SWC) was monitored during the 2016-17 and 2017- 18 seasons, and a fallow period in 2019-20 to evaluate the residual effects of organic and conventional treatments. HYDRUS-1D was used to model SWC in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, providing insights into transpiration, evaporation, percolation, and water storage as percentages of total rainfall. The findings indicate that organic farming generally enhances soil water retention in the upper soil layers, showing significant differences across multiple seasons. In monocrops, the organic system consistently exhibited higher SWC up to 70 cm, while the conventional system retained more water at deeper soil depths. Rotated crops showed variable results, with the organic system often outperforming the conventional one at shallower depths. WUE results revealed that conventional monocrop cabbage typically achieved the highest WUE, particularly in wetter seasons, whereas organic systems excelled in drier conditions. For rotated crops, conventional systems generally exhibited better WUE, though organic rotations performed better under drought conditions. The HYDRUS-1D simulations confirmed that organic systems had superior water retention and less negative change in water storage, supporting better WUE and productivity during drier periods. Moreover, organic rotated sweet potatoes consistently demonstrated superior WUE compared to their conventional counterparts, underscoring the importance of crop selection in organic farming systems. These findings suggest that organic practices, by improving soil water retention, enhance crop resilience and contribute to sustainable agricultural productivity in water-limited environments. Improving soil water retention through organic farming practices is a viable strategy to enhance crop production in water-scarce regions, contributing to food security, water conservation, and the overall resilience of agricultural systems.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 202
Religious rituals and psychological well-being in selected Zionist churches from the rural communities in the eastern cape province, South Africa
Full text linkReligion plays a critical role in mental health, especially in resource-constrained areas such as rural communities. In South Africa, particularly the Eastern Cape, the state of mental health care services is concerning. Most people in rural communities do not have access to mental health care services. It has been stated that the use of indigenous healing methods in rural areas in South Africa for mental health care is prevalent. The use of religious rituals in addressing mental health concerns has been stated as one way in which people cope. The existing literature primarily focuses on the use of rituals in addressing mental illness; limited information is available on the benefits of religious rituals in enhancing psychological well-being. Psychological well-being in this study was conceptualised as Ukuphila Emoyeni/hophela moyeng, a term used in the Zion church that acknowledges the intersection of psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being; thus, in this context, one may not research psychological well-being in isolation from the other dimensions. This study aimed to explore the psychological benefits derived through the enactment of the Zionist church's religious rituals on the psychological well-being of people in rural communities to develop guidelines that will assist psychologists in understanding how to integrate religious practices into psychological interventions. Using a qualitative approach that is exploratory, descriptive, and contextual in design, 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data. The data generated was analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis, and the study findings were framed within the social construction framework and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems theory. This study's findings highlighted that the participants understood well-being, which encompasses behavioural, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive dimensions. They reflected on the significance and benefits of rituals such as prayer, Ukuhlambulula (a cleansing ritual), and water rituals for psychological well-being. Ukuhlambulula is particularly significant for healing and communication. Church activities, including scripture reading and preaching, were perceived as fostering personal growth and providing moral guidance. The study also highlighted the active role of both individuals and clergy in promoting well-being, emphasising individual responsibility for seeking help when needed. The findings of this study underscore the importance of religious and cultural practices in promoting psychological well-being in rural communities. The findings were used to develop guidelines for integrating religious practices into psychological interventions. These guidelines highlight the need to understand the multidimensional nature of religious practices and how they affect the therapeutic setting. The extent of the integration of such practices will, therefore, depend on the nature of the therapeutic context and relationship, with the client guiding the process. These guidelines also advocated for the use of language as an epistemic tool. They use the ritual of ukuhlambulula as an example, as both a process that has psychological consequences and a restoration concept, to highlight how language can foster such integration. These guidelines also recognise religious leaders and communities as knowledge carriers essential in mental health care settings. Finally, these guidelines advocate for strengthening mental health care professionals' training on religious and spiritual matters to enable them to co-create the provision of culturally sensitive care.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural & Lifestyle Sciences, 202
An intelligent soft robotic end-effector using fluid elastomeric actuators
Full text linkThe field of robotics faces a significant challenge in creating adaptable and flexible end-effectors. Soft robotics, specifically soft robotic end-effectors, offer an innovative solution. This study aims to propose guidelines for the design of intelligent soft robotic end-effectors incorporating Fluid Elastomeric Actuators (FEAs). The resulting soft robotic end-effectors could enable manipulators to handle delicate objects without causing damage and could ensure the safety of operators working alongside the manipulators. FEAs, which consist of distinct active and passive sections, respond to fluid pressure to achieve controlled deformation. This research aims to introduce an intelligent soft robotic end-effector that utilises FEAs to enable versatile manipulation. A systematic methodology is employed throughout the study to identify the impact of the design considerations governing the performance of intelligent soft robotic end-effectors. The researcher uses the presented findings to propose guidelines for designing intelligent soft robotic endeffectors using FEAs. The guidelines could enable researchers to make informed design decisions when developing these end-effectors. The use of soft and compliant materials in manufacturing fluid elastomeric actuators makes these end-effectors inherently more adaptive, distinguishing this innovation from conventional end-effector designs.Thesis (MEng) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, School of Engineering, 202