21623 research outputs found
Sort by
The importance of African bioethics in the development of new artificial intelligence technologies in healthcare.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Abstract available in PDF
From fragmentation to integration: developing a sustainable technical and vocational education and training system in the technical colleges of the Lagos State, Nigeria.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This thesis, titled “From Fragmentation to Integration: Developing a Sustainable Technical and Vocational Education and Training System in the Technical Colleges of Lagos State, Nigeria,” explores the fragmented nature of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training system in Nigeria, with a specific focus on skills development within the Automotive Engineering sector. Focusing on Lagos State, the nation’s commercial nerve center and host to the largest Automotive Engineering sector, the research addresses the pivotal question: “How can Sustainable Socio-Economic Development (SSED) be fostered through TVET systems?” The study delineates the strategic, procedural, and hands-on skills essential to initiate, enable, and deliver a sustainable TVET system. Employing a mixed-methods strategy, the study utilised the Delphi technique to develop the research instrument. The study population comprised the Lagos State Ministry of Education / Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board, five technical colleges in Lagos State, and a selection of five technical colleges, and various registered automobile industries within Lagos State, with cluster sampling employed for sample acquisition. The quantitative phase of the study involved disseminating questionnaires to 230 individuals, out of which 162 were duly completed and returned. The gathered data underwent Explanatory Factor Analysis utilising the IBM® SPSS® 28 software, implementing Principal Axis Factoring with Oblimin rotation to discern underlying factors or latent constructs among the observed variables. Conversely, the qualitative phase entailed interviews with nine stakeholders, culminating in the identification of three overarching categories, themes, and seven sub-themes. The merging of the Integrated Intelligence framework, QHM and Porritt’s five capitals framework provides us with a comprehensive framework for understanding the interplay between the quantitative and qualitative results of the study. It offered a more holistic and integrated approach to understanding the “change” factors that promote SSED through TVETs. For the primary question, the results from the quantitative phase underscored the significance of Innovative Green Growth, emphasising the integration of sustainable and ecoconscious practices in food production. Such an approach not only fosters economic prosperity but also fortifies environmental stewardship. Concurrently, the study accentuates the necessity of Infrastructure Enhancement, advocating for the modernization of facilities and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies in line with the new developments in the automotive sector to enrich the educational milieu and equip graduates with the requisite skills for contemporary vocations. Regarding Strategic Leadership Skills, the study identifies three core factors: the fusion / amalgamation of problem-based teamwork with critical thinking, the cultivation of selfawareness, and the advancement of motivational leadership. These components are posited as pivotal in initiating and steering transformative change within the TVET landscape. Furthermore, the research casts light on Process Skills essential for facilitating change, pinpointing the integration of empathy with a suite of soft skills, strategic acumen, innovation quotient, and communicative prowess. Additionally, it identifies the Management of Diversity and Conflict as a critical skill set. The results for Practical Skills requisite for effectuating change, highlight the synergy of problem-solving and collaborative teamwork, augmented by a collaborative innovation intelligence and a spectrum of communicative, organizational, and strategic competencies. The study also acknowledges the significance of planning skills, an optimistic attitude, strategic management expertise, and the capacity to handle uncertainty. The qualitative phase, Category 1: Understanding TVET goals to re-evaluate them, results revealed a consensus on the necessity for policy frameworks that are in harmony with TVET's overarching goals. The unanimous emphasis on Curriculum-Policy Alignment and Coherence underscores the criticality of synchronizing educational strategies with labour market demands. The high valuation of Curriculum Design, with an 89% importance score, accentuates the urgency for curricula that are both contemporary and pertinent, equipping the workforce with skills suited for today's dynamic economic landscape. Furthermore, the results identified Skill Development and Re-engineering, alongside Stakeholder Engagement, as significant yet moderately recognised sub-themes, with respective scores of 56% and 33%. These findings highlight the imperative for ongoing skill advancement and the active participation of all TVET stakeholders, ensuring the system's adaptability to evolving economic and societal needs. For Category 2: Improving public perception and awareness, the research delved into the public’s perception of TVETs, highlighting the necessity for inventive strategies to enhance their appeal and relevance. The main theme within this domain, Provision of Incentive/Motivational Packages, received a 56% score, indicating a robust conviction in the power of incentives to transform TVETs into more enticing educational pathways. Nonetheless, the challenges in raising public awareness and in bolstering the allure and retention rates of staff and students are evident, as reflected by the lower scores of 22% and 33% in the corresponding sub-themes. For Category 3: Robust Governance, the study shed light on the pivotal role of Robust Governance in the reformation of TVETs. Innovative Leadership and Expertise, along with the management of TVETs by technically adept individuals, both garnered a 44% score, underscoring the essentiality of visionary leadership and specialized knowledge in steering the TVET agenda. However, the alarmingly low score of 22% for Adequate Funding and Infrastructure signals a critical risk area, necessitating immediate attention to ensure the sustainability of TVET systems. The integration of the Integrated Intelligence framework, Quintuple Helix Model, and Porritt’s Five Capitals framework provided a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between the results of the two phases of the study. By interfacing the Integrated Intelligence, Quintuple helix model and Porritt’s Five Capitals framework, the results of the study showed that the fragmentation in Lagos State, Nigerian TVETs can be addressed by promoting a more integrated, resource-optimised, and development-oriented approach to TVET. By encouraging interaction and cooperation among the five helices and the five capitals this ultimately leads to improved skills development, reduced unemployment, and enhanced socio-economic development. The study presents a compelling case for a holistic re-evaluation of TVET systems, emphasising the integration of curriculum design with policy, the enhancement of stakeholder engagement, the improvement of public perception, and the fortification of governance
structures. These elements are deemed indispensable for the evolution of TVETs into resilient educational institutions that can effectively respond to the demands of the modern world. These findings not only contribute to the academic discourse but also offer pragmatic insights for policymakers and educators striving to cultivate a workforce capable of thriving in and contributing to a sustainable socio-economic environment
Integrated control of postharvest Fusarium solani of potatoes using UV-C irradiation and Moringa oleifera leaf extracts.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Potatoes are a source of food, income and important nutrients which are beneficial to human health. However, production of potato tuber may be hindered by postharvest losses, which reduce the quality and quantity of potatoes reaching consumers. Major losses of potatoes are caused by poor harvesting, sorting, cleaning, handling, and packing. Fusarium solani, a causal agent of dry rot disease that mainly affects potatoes occurs during storage as the pathogen invades the potato tuber through tissue injuries inflicted during lifting or grading. Fusarium dry rot has been mainly
controlled by using chemicals. However, the frequent use of chemicals has been recently reported to enhance fungicide resistance to potato pathogens. Chemical fungicides also negatively affect human health and the environment, as they introduce residues in treated potatoes and soil.
There is a need to investigate and develop sustainable agricultural strategies such as UV-C irradiation and plant extracts as alternative strategies which are human and environmentally friendly. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the effect of UVC irradiation and Moringa oleifera leaf extract, independently and their combined effect in controlling F. solani on potatoes in vitro and in vivo. The antifungal effects of UV-C irradiation against F. solani were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. UV-C treatment for 10 and 15 minutes at a 10 cm distance successfully inhibited the mycelial growth of F. solani by ≥ 50% at 7-day post-inoculation. The in vivo results showed that ‘Sifra’
potatoes treated with UV-C for 10 minutes and 15 minutes had a disease incidence ≤ 33%. The increase in the duration of UV-C exposure to potatoes lowered the disease incidence on potatoes. The scanning electron icrographs showed the breakage and shrinkage of the mycelia in vitro, and the disruption of spores in UVC -treated potatoes. Moringa leaf extracts were prepared and adjusted into different concentrations, MLE 1%, MLE 1.5%, MLE 2%, MLE 2.5%, and MLE 3%. These concentrations were evaluated for their efficacy against F. solani in vitro and in vivo. The findings demonstrated that MLE 1.5%, MLE 2.5%, and MLE 3% inhibited the mycelial growth
of F. solani by ≥ 50% in vitro. The in vivo findings revealed that both MLE 2.5% and MLE 3% reduced incidence of dry rot in potatoes. The antifungal activity of moringa was increased at higher concentrations. The scanning electron micrographs showed mycelia distortion in samples treated with moringa and the disruption of F. solani spores on the treated potatoes. It also indicated the formation of biofilms in moringatreated potatoes.
Furthermore, this study evaluated the effect of integrated control of F. solani using UVC and moringa leaf extracts. The in vitro results demonstrated that samples treated with MLE 2.5% and exposed to UV-C for 15 minutes inhibited the mycelial growth of F. solani by 100%. ‘Sifra’ potatoes exposed to UV-C for 15 minutes and treated with MLE 3% had the lowest disease incidence (8.33%). The scanning electron micrographs showed abnormal, shrinkage, disruption, aggregation and reduced hyphae length of mycelia in samples treated with both UV-C and MLE. Moreover, it indicated the formation of biofilms in UV and moringa-treated surfaces of potato
wounds. These integrated treatments enhanced efficacy compared to the individual application of either treatment. UV-C can be integrated with moringa and be used as alternatives to synthetic fungicides to control dry rot of potatoes
The impact of assistive devices on individuals with special visual needs and its ethical implications: exploring the experiences of students with special visual needs in University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The development of assistive devices has resulted in a more promising society, particularly for people with special visual needs. The invention gives people with special visual needs more opportunities to study, be independent, and work. However, in this modern world, there are still some ethical considerations and implications for using assistive devices. Students with special visual needs face accommodation and adaptation challenges, limiting their full interaction with other students and community members. The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of students with special visual needs at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg campus with the use of assistive devices, and to assess the impact and ethical implications of these assistive devices. This study has used a qualitative research approach. In this study, semi-structured in-depth face-to-face and online interviews were conducted. The study includes 20 students with special visual needs at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg campus. In this study, I argue that poorly designed physical environments continue to create difficulties that continue to exclude people with special visual needs from participating in their societies. Students also face the challenge of high cost of necessary assistive devices, a lack of training, and being misunderstood by other members of the community. In order to sensitize non-special needs individuals, the University of KwaZulu-Natal must make campuses more accessible and friendly to all individuals with special visual needs. This includes raising awareness and ensuring that individuals with special visual needs participate fully in university life and beyond
Access to health care and its determinants: the case of older persons in Chivi South district, Zimbabwe = Ukufinyelela ekunakekelweni ngokwezempilo kanye nokuma kwako: abantu abadala basesifundeni saseChivi South, eZimbabwe.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This study investigates the accessibility of health care services by older persons living in rural areas of Chivi South district. Access to health care has remained invisible in the scholarship in third-world countries like Zimbabwe. In this respect, the study explores the lived experiences of rural older persons residing in Chivi South, a research site embedded in political uncertainty and economic quagmire bedeviling Zimbabwe. This qualitative study was anchored on the interpretivist approach. A sample of 10 key informants and 20 older persons participated in key informant and in-depth interviews. This study established four key findings that will contribute immensely to the sociology of ageing in poor-resourced settings such as Zimbabwe. The cultural meaning of illness among older persons is essential in creating acceptable healthcare services. The consequences of not making a more enabling and inclusive environment for older persons will have a dire impact on healthcare delivery. Changes in policies that support more preventative health and social care globally instead of a reactive approach, which is wholly unsustainable for today’s ever-growing population. In Zimbabwe, older persons are often treated as a homogenous group with similar needs, leading to blanket interventions that overlook individual differences. This has resulted in poorly conceptualized and targeted assistance programs, failing to address local needs. Socially constructed narratives of successful ageing could inform the design of appropriate geriatric policies and programs to transform the healthcare needs of older persons in Zimbabwe. The key findings of the study show that the older persons living in the rural areas of Chivi South district experience challenges such as limited access to economic resources, traveling long distances to access healthcare services, inequalities in the healthcare service delivery system, reduced health status, limited availability, acceptability, and accessibility of healthcare services and inter alia. These challenges limit older persons from accessing much-needed healthcare services. The preeminent aim of this study is informed by the theoretical accounts of Penchansky and Thomas (1981) and Giddens (1984). The structures that frame rural healthcare provision ultimately function as key determinants of the nature and scope of healthcare service utilization, which propounded the structuration theory. Based on the subjective narratives of the research participants, the uniqueness of this study is anchored on its ability to offer a sociological foundation for developing innovative interventions and workable public policy options that support the aging population in African rural spaces. The study showed evidence of how social determinants of health may help reduce disparities in healthcare access for older persons in rural settings. Older persons, especially those residing in poor communities, have unique needs when addressing social health needs. The ageing population in Zimbabwe faces socio-economic predicaments and various challenges in the healthcare sector. It is particularly challenging to manage social connectedness in rural areas because of the issues around accessibility of health care, i.e., physical, financial, and societal barriers, making these multifaceted but crucially critical social determinants of health. Any efforts to improve the health and well-being of older rural persons address rural-urban disparities in healthcare needs and include a focus on the social determinants of health.
Iqoqa.
Lolu cwaningo lubheka ukufinyeleleka ezinsizenisidingo zezempilo ngabantu abadala ezindaweni ezisemaphandleni esifundeni saseChivi South, eZimbabwe. Ukufinyelela ekunakekelweni ngokwezempilo selokhu kungaveli kwezocwaningo emazweni amaningi asakhulayo. Ngenxa yalokhu, ucwaningo luhlwaya ngempilo yabadala abahlala emaphandleni aseChivi South, okuyindawo ehaqwe ukungazinzi kwezepolitiki kanye nomnotho ontengantengayo. Ngokusebenzisa indlela eyikhwalithethivu ehumushayo, ucwaningo lwaba nenhlayalwazi nabantu abadala nabanye abanolwazi olunqala esifundeni saseChivi South. Ucwaningo lwathola imiphumela emine ebalulekile engalekelela kakhulu enhlalweni yabadala emazweni angenazo izinsizasidingo njengaseZimbabwe. Ukuthi kusho ukuthini ukugula komuntu omdala ngokwamasiko kubalulekile ekuqhamukeni nosizo lwezempilo olwamukelekile. Ukwahluleka ukwakha ezempilo eziphilayo ezithinta abantu abadala kuyakukhubaza ukuhanjiswa kosizo lwezempilo. Ukushintshwa kwenqubomgomo ukuze kube naleyo evimbela izifo nenakekelayo emhlabeni wonke yikona okungcono kunaleyo elinda abantu baze bagule ngoba ayiwulungele umphakathi njengoba ukhula zikhathi zonke. Abantu abadala bathathwa njengawo wonke umuntu sengathi abantu abanezidingo ezifanayo, okwenza ukungenelela kunganaki ukuthi abantu bahlukahlukene. Abantu abadala abahlala emaphandleni babhekene nezinkinga zezomnotho, zezenhlalo kanye nezengqalasizinda eziphazamisa ukufinyelela ekunakekelweni ngokwezempilo. Kusetshenziswa imiqondo kaPenchasky noThomas (1981) yokutholakala, ukufinyeleleka, ukwamukeleka kanye nokuba namandla okwenza, lolu cwaningo lwathola okuningi okungahambi kahle ekunikweni kokunakekelwa ngezempilo kubantu abadala. Isakhiwo somqulucwaningo kaGiddens salekelela ekukhombiseni ukuphuthuma kosizo lwabantu abadala njengoba bebhekene nezingqinamba zezempilo. Ngokubheka izindaba ezaxoxwa ababambiqhaza ngqo, ukuba yingqayizivele kwalolu cwaningo kuncike ekukwazini ukubeka okungaba yisisekelo sokubunjwa kwezinhlelo ezintsha zokungenelela kanye nezinhlelo zenqubomgomo yomphakathi okungakhethwa kuzo ukuze kuxhaswe asebekhulile ezindaweni zase-Afrika ezisemaphandleni. Ucwaningo lwakhombisa ukuthi izimo zenhlalo zezempilo zikuveza kanjani obala ukungalingani mayelana nokufinyeleleka kwezempilo ezindaweni zasemaphandleni. Abantu abadala banezidingo ezikhethekile okumele zibonelelwe uma kulungiswa izimo zezempilo. Yonke imizamo yokuthuthukisa ezempilo nenhlalakahle yabantu abadala kumele ibhekisise ukungalingani ngokwezidingo zezempilo okumele kubandakanye ukugxila kwezimo zenhlalo ezithinta impilo
Analysis of the dynamics of carbon pricing: the role of speculation in the Emissions Trading System (ETS) = Ukuhlaziywa kokushukumisa kwenani le-carbon: iqhaza elidlalwa ukuqagela endleleni yokuhweba ekhiphayo (ETS).
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Purpose – To align with the global goal of keeping the temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, a market-based policy initiative, the "Emissions Trading System (ETS)," is to mitigate climate change. However, the carbon allowances traded at the ETS are held and traded not only by polluting companies, but also emissions non-compliance financial firms. These financial firms though engage in speculation, there has not been any compelling evidence of the extent to which speculation matters in carbon pricing. To bridge this gap, this study is premised on three separate but related essays to: (i) determine the accurate framework for modelling the dynamics of carbon pricing; (ii) determine the extent to which speculation matters in the predictability of carbon pricing; and (iii) determine whether speculation undermines or benefits the emission reduction effect of carbon pricing. Methodology –We employ the GARCH-MIDAS econometric technique to test the hypothesis that an all-inclusive framework that reflects the emission compliance and emissions noncompliance dynamics of the ETS is the most accurate approach to modeling carbon prices. We also employ some verifiable econometric procedures to arrive at the Feasible Quasi Generalised Least Square (FQGLS) as the most appropriate estimator to address some of the biases in the predictability of carbon prices. Findings – A modeling framework that captures both emissions compliance and emissions noncompliance dynamics of the ETS is the most accurate to modeling carbon prices. We find that speculation is a good predictor of carbon prices. We find that both emission compliance and emission non-compliance dynamics of the carbon market matter for the emissions reduction effect of the ETS and for enhancing the accuracy of climate change forecasts. Research Contribution – The literature on emission trading has continued to ignore the speculative behavior of the emissions non-compliance firms in the ETS. As a result, we construct a composite news-based speculation index to simultaneously capture the emissions compliance and emissions non-compliance dynamics of the ETS in a single framework. We provide the literature with a data-driven framework upon which the predictive power of speculation is examined both in the predictability of carbon pricing and in the forecast of emission reductions.
Iqoqa.
Inhloso – Ukuqondanisa izinjongo zomhlaba zokugcinwa kwezinga lokushisa lingaphansi kuka-2 degrees Celsius, ukusungula inqubomgomo eyame ezimaketheni, Indlela Yokuhweba Ekhiphayo "Emissions Trading System (ETS)," ngenhloso yokulungisa ukuguquguquka kwesimo seZulu. Yize-kunjalo, inani lecarbon elihwetshiwe ku-ETS ligcinwa liphinde lihwetshwe yizinkampani ezenza ukungcola kodwa hhayi zona kuphela kepha nezinkampani zezomnotho ezingathobeli ukukhipha okungcolisayo. Le zinkampani zezomnotho yize zisebenza ngokuqagula, bebungakabibikho ubufakazi obuqandula ikhanda ngendlela abaqagula ngayo inani le-carbon. Ukuvala leli gebe, lolu cwaningo lweyame kuma-eseyi amathathu ahlukene kepha ahlobene nolokhu: (i) ukuqonda uhlaka oluqondile ukwenza imodeli yokwehluka kwenani lecarbon; (ii) ukuqonda ukuqagulwa nokulinganisa amanani ecarbon; kanye (iii) nokuqonda ukuthi ukuqagula kucekela phansi noma kuyalekelela ekunciphiseni ukuphipha ukugcola ngokukhipha amanini ecarbon.
Indlela yocwaningo–Kusetshenziswe iGARCH-MIDAS econometric technique ukuhlola isihlawumbiselo sohlaka olufaka konke oluveza okusemthethweni ngokuphipha ukugcola kanye nokungalandeli umthetho wokukhishwa kokungcola okunhlonhlobo nge-ETS okuyiyona ndlela eqondile ukumodela inani le-carbon. Kuphinde kwasebenza izindlela eziqinisekisiwe ze-econometric procedures ukufinyelela kwiFeasible Quasi Generalised Least Square (FQGLS) njengesiqaguli esinembayo ukuxazulula okunye ukwenzelela ekuguleleni kwenani lecarbon.
Imiphumela – Uhlaka lokumodela oluqukethe ukulandelwa komthetho wokukhishwa kokungcola kanye nokungalandelwa komthetho wokukhishwa kokungcola okunhlobonhlobo ku-ETS iyona ekahle kakhulu ukumodela amanani ecarbon. Kutholakale ukuthi ukuqagula yikho okuyisiqaguli esihle kumanani ecarbon. Kutholakale nokuthi kokubili ukulandelwa komthetho nokungalandelwa kwawo kokukhishwa kokungcola okunhlobonhlobo ezimaketheni ze-carbon ukwehlisa kokukhishwa kokungcola kumthelela weETS kanye nokuthuthukisa ukuqonda kokuqagulwa ngokuguquguquka kwesimo seZulu.
Umnikelo wocwaningo –Imibhalo ngokuhweba ngokukhishwa kokungcola kuveza ukuqhubeka kokushawa indiva kokungalandelwa kwemithetho yokukhishwa kokungcola ezinkampanini ze-ETS. Kungakho-ke kugcine sekwakhiwa uhlobo olusha oluqondile lokuqagula ukuqoqa ngasikhathi sinye nokukulandelwa nokungalandelwa komthetho wokukhishwa kokungcola okunhlonhlonhlobo kwe-RTS ohlakeni olulodwa. Kube sekubakhona nemibhalo enemininingo elawula uhlaka olunamandla okuqagula, kuhlole ukuqagula kanye namanani e-carbon ukwehlisa ukuqagula kokukhishwa kokungcola
Value chain financing and profitability of edible oil manufacturing companies in South Africa.
No full textDoctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The study aimed to evaluate the impact of Value Chain Financing on the profitability of edible oil manufacturing companies in South Africa. Utilising secondary data collected
from the financial statements of edible oil manufacturing companies from 2012 to 2022. Throughout the research, a positivism paradigm was applied using a descriptive retrospective
panel data approach. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the value chain financing variables and the profitability of edible oil manufacturing
companies in South Africa. The first objective was to ascertain the impact of financing in the raw material on the profitability of edible oil manufacturing companies in South Africa. This
objective was achieved using descriptive statistics. The second objective was to assess the impact of financing in the working capital on the profitability of edible oil manufacturing
companies in South Africa. This objective was achieved using correlation analysis between the variables. The third objective was to ascertain the impact of financing in the primary
activities on the profitability of edible oil manufacturing companies in South Africa. The fourth objective was to determine the impact of financing in the support activities on the
profitability of edible oil manufacturing companies in South Africa. The fifth objective was to establish the impact of firm characteristics on the link between financing in the value-chain
and profitability in edible oil manufacturing companies in South Africa. The three last objectives used data panel regression for the period from 2012 to 2022. In this analysis, the
study extends the Unit root test to confirm that the data was stationary; the multi-collinearity test to guarantee that the independent variables had not been correlated; the Hausman test
aided in choosing the best model for the data among the fixed effect model with the random effect model; and the study included the Normality test to guarantee that the findings could
be generalised and utilised in the edible oil industry. The study results suggest that value chain financing gave firms a competitive advantage amongst other competitors in the field
and increased profitability
An eco-theological analysis of the Eglise du Christ au Congo’s pastoral response to mineral resources-based conflicts in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
No full textThis research delves into the multifaceted conflict dynamics in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with a specific focus on the impact of mineral resources on these conflicts. Through a systematic review of literature and scholarly debates, this study explores various approaches to understanding and addressing the mineral-based conflicts in the region. Furthermore, the dissertation examines the role of the Eglise du Christ au Congo (ECC) in engaging with and responding to these conflicts from a pastoral and theological perspective. By shedding light on the complexities of mineral-based conflicts in the Eastern region of DRC and the interventions of religious institutions, this research contributes to the broader discourse on conflict resolution and peacebuilding in resource-rich, but conflict-affected regions.
In recent years, the eastern region of the DRC has been plagued with multifaceted conflicts, characterised by violence, human rights abuses, and the displacement of populations. One of the key drivers of these conflicts is the abundance of mineral resources in the region, which has led to competition and exploitation by various armed groups and external actors. This study considers the economic, political, and social dimensions of these conflicts, as well as the impact on local communities and the environment. By synthesizing existing knowledge, the research aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the root causes and consequences of mineral-based conflicts in the region.
Furthermore, the dissertation explores the role of the ECC in engaging with and responding to these conflicts. Churches have long been influential institutions in the DRC, with a strong presence in local communities. This research examines how churches have used their moral authority and religious networks to promote peace and reconciliation and provide pastoral care amid the conflict. It also considers the theological perspectives about the value and care of the environment that might underpin engagement with questions of forgiveness, justice, and human dignity in the pursuit of peace.
Overall, this research contributes to the broader discourses on pastoral care as it relates to conflict resolution and peacebuilding in resource-rich, but conflict-affected regions
A collaborative self-study exploring the implementation of inclusive education in a school in the Umlazi District.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The literature highlights the significance of inclusive education in addressing the diverse needs of learners, as well as the importance of teachers possessing the necessary understanding and skills to implement it effectively. As a result, this study explored my inclusive practice using a collaborative self-study research design in a South African high school in the Umlazi District. The study aimed to understand how my personal history contributed to my interest in inclusive education. The study also explored how my two experienced colleagues (critical friends) and I experience inclusive education and, why we need to implement inclusive education using an intersectional lens. I employed a qualitative self-study methodological approach and used memory work, reflective journals, mind-maps and discussions to generate data and address my aim. The findings revealed that a) my past personal experiences developed and elevated my interest in inclusive education, b) learners with intersecting identities face multiple forms of exclusions, leading to feelings of invisibility and isolation, c) we (my critical friends and I) lacked sufficient understanding and capacities to address the intersections, diversity and inclusive education. This unpreparedness ultimately resulted in inadequate support and accommodation towards learners and awareness of the complexities of inclusive education. It also encouraged me to recognise and value the diversity of learners' experiences and identities. In light of these findings, I recommended the need to promote diversity, create inclusive environments and cultivate inclusive education by accommodating learners’ multiple identities
Investigating impact of coronavirus lockdown regulations on public transport operations recovery of eThekwini Municipality.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The COVID-19 pandemic prompted worldwide lockdown measures, significantly impacting public transportation systems. This study examines the effects of lockdown regulations on public transport operations in eThekwini Municipality, South Africa, and assesses potential solutions. Using a quantitative approach, a survey was conducted with 50 randomly selected residents of eThekwini Municipality. The results reveal that awareness and preparedness are the primary factors influencing the impact of COVID-19 lockdown regulations on public transport activities. Additionally, demographic factors such as age, ethnicity, and years of experience were found to influence attitudes, preparedness, awareness, and responsibility towards public transportation during the lockdown. The study recommends enhancing staff training and developing capabilities to handle pandemic-related impacts in the transport sector. This research contributes valuable insights to assist decision-makers in eThekwini Municipality in making informed choices regarding transportation service delivery in the context of public health crises