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The transition of Rhodes University graduates into the South African labour market : a case study of the 2010 cohort
No full textRecent studies have shown that graduates from historically White universities (HWUs) experience better labour market outcomes than graduates from historically Black universities (HBUs). This is a result of the legacy of apartheid which promoted racial inequality in all spheres of South African society, more especially in higher education and the labour market. Post-1994, government dedicated large amounts for the restructuring of the higher education sector of South Africa in order to level out the playing field. However, graduates from HWUs still experience better labour market success than graduates from HBUs. That said, there is limited information about the labour market outcomes and experiences of graduates from a former White university (especially graduates from Rhodes University). Therefore, the central aim of this dissertation is to show that graduates from a historically White university (Rhodes University) experience varying and unequal outcomes in the South African labour market on account of (among other factors) their chosen fields of study, race and sex. This study is informed by the heterodox labour market approach, which is partly inspired by the critical realist account of the labour market. As a result, this theoretical framework allowed the researcher to use the Labour Market Segmentation (LMS) theory as a tool to inform this analysis. The study has adopted a quantitative survey design and has incorporated some of the key methodological lessons learned from the collection of international graduate tracer studies. The findings from this study indicated that ‘field of study’ is a strong determiner of the outcomes of Rhodes graduates in the labour market. This was visible in the persistence of a skills bias towards commerce and science graduates. Evidently, even when we controlled for race and sex, graduates from the commerce and science faculties experience better labour market outcomes than humanities graduates. This is a result of a skills biased South African economy, which has a higher demand for certain skills over others. However, the findings from this study also show evidence of pre-labour market discrimination and inequality (based on race and sex) in the supply-side institutions such as the family, schooling and university. The findings also show continuities and discontinuities of labour market discrimination (based on race and sex) in the outcomes of Rhodes graduates in the South African labour market. More importantly, this dissertation indicates that Rhodes graduates experience varying outcomes in the labour market as a result of (among other factors) their chosen fields of study, race and sex
Effects of Redox Mediators on the Catalytic Activity of Iron Porphyrins towards Oxygen Reduction in Acidic Media
No full textThe effects of different redox mediators on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyzed by an iron porphyrin complex, iron(III) meso-tetra(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphine chloride [FeIIITMPyP], in 0.1 M triflic acid were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and spectroelectrochemistry in conjunction with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The formal potentials of the FeIIITMPyP catalyst and the redox mediators, as well as the half-wave potentials for the ORR, were determined by CV in the absence and presence of oxygen in acidic solutions. UV/Vis spectroscopic and spectroelectrochemical studies confirmed that only the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazioline-6-sulfonic acid)diammonium salt (C18H24N6O6S4) showed effective interactions with FeIIITMPyP during the ORR. DFT calculations suggested strong interaction between FeIIITMPyP and the C18H24N6O6S4 redox mediator. The redox mediator caused lengthening of the dioxygen iron bond, which thus suggested easier dioxygen reduction. Consistent results were observed in electrochemical impedance spectroscopic measurements for which the electron-transfer kinetics were also evaluated.Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/celc.20140205
An exploration into the conditions enabling and constraining the implementation of quality assurance in higher education : the case of a small comprehensive university in South Africa
No full textAt an international level, demands for accountability in respect of the quality of teaching
and learning in higher education are increasing. This is also the case in South Africa.
The response to these demands has taken the form of the introduction of quality
assurance systems to higher education.
In South Africa, a formal national external quality assurance was introduced to the
higher education system in 2001 as a result of the establishment of the Higher
Education Quality Committee. The Higher Education Quality Committee is a standing
committee of the South African Council on Higher Education.
Like other quality assurance agencies across the world, the Higher Education Quality
Committee has the responsibility for i) auditing institutions of higher education and ii)
accrediting learning programmes. The first cycle of institutional audits ran from 2004
until 2011.
As quality assurance was introduced to the higher education system and the first cycle
of institutional audits began, universities in South Africa developed policies and
procedures intended to assure quality in three areas of their core functioning: research,
teaching and learning and community engagement. The University of Venda, which is
the focus of the study on which this thesis is based, was no exception.
As a practitioner in the Centre for Higher Education Teaching and Learning at The
University of Venda, it was my observation that the policies and procedures intended to
assure quality in teaching and learning were not always implemented by academic staff
members. This was in spite of poor student performance data which raised questions
about the quality of the teaching and learning processes in place. The study
underpinning this thesis was designed to explore this phenomenon. More specifically, it
aimed to identify the conditions enabling and constraining the implementation of policies
and procedures in two Schools in the University: the School of Health Sciences and the
School of Human and Social Sciences.
In order to explore these conditions, I adopted Roy Bhaskar’s Critical Realism as an
under-labouring philosophy for the study. Critical realism posits a view of reality comprising three strata, none of which can be reducible to the other. The first of these
strata is termed the level of the Empirical and consists of the experiences and
observations which become apparent to us through the senses. The second layer, the
Actual, consists of events from which these experiences and observations emerge.
Underpinning both of these layers is a further layer, the Real, which is not accessible by
empirical means and which consists of structures and mechanisms which generate both
events at the level of the Actual and experiences and observation at the level of the
Empirical. The design of my study sought to reach this deepest layer of reality to identify
these mechanisms.
Bhaskar’s critical realism is philosophy which needs to be operationalized using
substantive, or explanatory, theory. For this purpose, I drew on Margaret Archer’s social
realism.
The design on my study drew on case study methodology and involved in-depth
interviews with members of the two Schools which each formed cases within the more
overarching case of the University itself. In addition to these interviews, I analysed a
range of institutional documents related to the assurance of quality in teaching and
learning.
The exploration of enabling and constraining conditions at the level of the Real allow me
to make a series of recommendations in the final Chapter of my thesis intended to
enhance the quality assurance system introduced to the Universit
The impact of internal behavioural decision-making biases on South African collective investment scheme performance
No full textMarket efficiency, based on people acting rationally, has been the dominating finance theory for most of the 20th and 21st Century’s. This classical finance theory is based on assumptions that people are rational, they absorb all available information and maximise utility. This view is outdated; it has been shown that people are in fact irrational and that this could be the cause of anomalies in the market. Behavioural finance takes into account people, and their natural biases. Behavioural finance has integrated classical financial theories and psychological theories to illustrate the way in which irrational people can impact market efficiency.
This research looks at the way collective investment scheme manager decision-making can impact market efficiency. Specifically the behavioural biases: overconfidence, over optimism, loss aversion and frame dependence and whether or not collective investment scheme performance is affected by these. This research was carried out using a questionnaire distributed directly to CIS managers and risk-adjusted returns were used in order to allow for comparative results.
The results from the questionnaire show evidence that actively managing South African CIS managers do indeed suffer from overconfidence and loss aversion and they do not appear to suffer from frame dependence or over optimism in this research context. There was also evidence showing that managers who suffer from these biases also demonstrated lower investment returns.
“The investor’s chief problem, and even his worst enemy, is likely to be himself.”
- Benjamin Graha
The role of non-governmental organisations in land reform and post-settlement support in the Albany district of the Eastern Cape : a case study of Masifunde
No full textThe purpose of this study is to explore the role of NGOs in land reform and post-settlement support in the Albany district of the Eastern Cape using a qualitative case study of Masifunde. To discover this role, civil society, land beneficiaries, Department of Agriculture and Department of Rural Development and Land Reform were proved to have interwoven relationships. The interactions and relationships between these entities underpinned their perceptions of each other.
This study is set against the backdrop of a weakening land reform program due to frequent policy changes. Evidence presented showed how out of sync land reform is with its original mandate whilst civil society organisations have remained firmly rooted by theirs. The inability to have twin perspectives on this matter diverges the direction civil society and institutions involved in land reform take on. This separation in direction demonstrates the need for engagement between government and civil society in an attempt to assist in areas government is unable to reach or address.
This thesis contends that there is definitely a role that NGOs do play and need to take on when it is evident that relevant actors are unable to deliver. Themes emerging from interviews necessitate civil society and government departments to combine their resources so as to maximise the impact for desired outcomes. These are views of both civil society and government, demonstrating that NGOs indeed do play a role in land reform and post-settlement support and need to continuously do so in an attempt to cushion the blows of uneven implementation of land reform policies
"Cut it out Blade"
No full textOn 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
"Decolonize this institution"
No full textOn 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
Marshalling the march
No full textOn 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
Student leader in action
No full textOn 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
VC Dr Sizwe Mabizela joins the students in song
No full textOn 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