UCT Open Access Journals (Univ. of Cape Town)
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Leveraging the engineering ecosystem to prepare TVET graduates that the South African manufacturing industry needs
Get PDFThis study investigates the claims in literature that South African TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) colleges, a key component of the engineering ecosystem, fail to produce graduates who meet industry requirements. A Likert-scale questionnaire was developed and deployed to manufacturing businesses in South Africa. The results confirm the proliferation of negative perceptions of TVET graduates in South Africa. Advanced statistical analysis and simulation techniques applied to the data confirm the key latent variables impacting the sector as graduate capability, technology, curriculum innovation, technical skills, soft skills, business performance, employability, and graduate turnover. Furthermore, a systems dynamics model was developed based on the causal relationships of observable variables constituting the university–TVET–industry nexus of the engineering ecosystem. The simulation results reveal significant potential for growth in new business activity and employment for TVET graduates. This could be achieved by facilitating collaboration across the engineering ecosystem. Thus, business input into curriculum development would be increased, universities would contribute to curriculum innovation and evolution, and soft skills would be enhanced for both new and existing graduates
Millions of Caper Whites Belenois aurota 100 km offshore of West Africa
Get PDFAt least 4.3 million Caper Whites Belenois aurota were observed at sea in the Atlantic Ocean offshore of Senegal and The Gambia between 14 and 18 October 2003. They were moving to the southwest, carried by the northeasterly wind
Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata breeding in association with Brant's Whistling Rat Parotomys brantsii
Get PDFThis short note reports an observation of Capped Wheatears Oenanthe pileata breeding in burrows made by Brant's Whistling Rat Parotomys brantsii. It points out that there is no record of the rodent species associated with the Capped Wheatear or whether there are preferred rodents. It also points out that there are large areas where the ranges of Capped Wheatears and Ant-eating Chats Myrmecocichla formicivore overlap. The latter species also breeds in association with mammals. There are possibilities of joint studies
Preliminary inventory of intertidal flora in Vigur Island, Iceland
Get PDFThis study presents the initial findings of a pilot intertidal inventory conducted on Vigur Island, Iceland. The primary focus was to identify the flora species present in the intertidal zone, without delving into their distribution or coverage. Using transect and scanning methods, this inventory provides insights into the biodiversity of this coastal region. This preliminary assessment lays the groundwork for future comprehensive studies on the island's intertidal biodiversity
Record of Progressive Greying in Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis in Nigeria
Get PDFWhile birding at Okinni (7°50'38"N, 4°30'57"E), Osun State, Nigeria, on 22 September 2022, a Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis was seen with an unusual plumage that distinguished it from the other Laughing Doves in the area
The use of eye-colour and other features to determine the age of Arrow-marked Babblers Turdoides jardineii
Get PDFAs in most passerines, the appearance of an adult Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii develops during the first year of life. Here we describe, based on photographic evidence, the development of the eye colour, and the colours of the bill and inner mouth
Powerful wind kills hundreds of birds
Get PDFExtreme weather events are predicted to occur with increasing frequency as a result of global climate change. These extremes take multiple forms. This note reports an abnormal weather event in which winds, apparently Force 10 on the Beaufort Scale (90-100 km/hour), killed hundreds of birds at a farmhouse in the Karoo, South Africa. The wind was so strong that it removed birds from their roosts in trees and flung them against the walls of the farmhouse with such force that it killed them. There are no published accounts of comparable events in southern Africa
Employers’ perspectives on employability skills and attributes of mining engineering undergraduates in South Africa
Get PDFThere is an increasing demand for universities to produce work-ready graduates in the mining sector. Universities and industry therefore acknowledge the need to support graduate employability through various strategies that focus on theory-practice integration. Mining engineering undergraduate programmes offered in South Africa furnish students with knowledge and skills that enable them to effectively transition to the workplace. This signifies the valuable employability skills and attributes which are highly sought after in the workplace. This article presents data based on interviews with employers in the mining industry. The paper draws from Kolb’s experiential learning theory which provided an analytical lens for the study. The article presents findings on the following themes: development of reflective learning experiences; enhancing workplace experience through work-integrated learning (WIL); development of employability skills; and university and mining company partnerships. In conclusion, this qualitative study on employers’ perceptions regarding the attributes of mining engineering undergraduates may play a significant role in understanding the mining sector’s contribution to fostering employability among students
An Investigation into Construction Tender-Price Inflation:: A Documentary Review
Get PDFThe essentiality of public infrastructure delivery cannot be over-stressed. However, there is a need to challenge existing practices and poor performance and focus on the value of public infrastructure to attain sustainable improvement in the public construction sector. Like many developing countries, Zambia’s public construction sector experiences numerous challenges that create a vicious cycle. This research provides a base for conducting further investigations regarding construction tender-price inflation and highlights the urgent need to manage the phenomenon. The data generated by this baseline study is critical to measure the degree and extent of construction tender price change between 2008 and 2018. The multiple-case design allows the study to perform a documentary review and cross-case analysis regarding the tender-price phenomena. The study also adopts a pattern-matching analysis to identify behaviours and practices of case firms regarding construction project implementation. The paper finds inherent project management challenges associated with case firms, including late engagement of supervising consultants, delayed payments, poor contract or project management practices, poor quality of works, a lack of detailed engineering designs, questionable award of contracts, and delayed project implementation. By comparing the construction-project-management approaches of case firms, the study finds that construction tender prices increased by an average of 31.4% per annum for upgrading roads to bituminous standards between 2008 and 2018. In addition, the study finds areas requiring prioritization to address construction tender price inflation include late engagement of supervising consultants, delayed payments, and poor contract or project management practices. Other notable factors requiring attention include poor quality of work, lack of detailed engineering designs, delayed project implementation, and questionable contract awards. The study offers a practical implication: addressing tender price inflation adds economic value to public projects and enhances public institutions’ appetite for construction infrastructure development.
Keywords: construction, public sector, road projects, tender-price inflatio
Cetacean sightings from Mozambican waters, including the first records of Rough-toothed Dolphin Steno bredanensis and Fraser’s Dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei
Get PDFOpportunistic cetacean sightings were made during a 79-day fishing trip through southern and central Mozambican waters. Notable sightings included the first Mozambican records of Rough-toothed Dolphin Steno bredanensis and Fraser’s Dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei, although both species have been recorded from neighbouring South African and Tanzanian waters. A number of other rarely seen cetacean species, with few Mozambican records, were also recorded