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A linguistic discourse reconstruction of hegemonic masculinities in Lubukusu initiation music texts and ritual speeches
No full textMany insights into the social and ideological foundations of a particular culture can be gained by analyzing the language used in ritual texts. The development of many forms of identities, including gender relations and hegemonic masculinity, have generally been articulated through ritual discourse. This study, therefore, seeks to linguistically analyze the reconstruction of hegemonic masculinities in Lubukusu initiation music texts and ritual speeches (ritual discourse). The study focuses on the linguistic structures and/or communication strategies that support the idea of hegemonic masculinity. Thus, the study does not only endeavor to describe and interpret linguistic patterns such as imagery, euphemism, personification, exaggeration, idiomatic expressions, proverbs and juxtaposition, but also unravel hegemonic masculinities embedded in the selected Lubukusu initiation texts. It further examines the functionality of the ritual discourse in reflecting the hegemonic masculinities.
The data for research constitutes Lubukusu initiation music texts and ritual speeches which were gathered during the male circumcision ritual in Bungoma, Western Kenya in the year 2024. The study employed the descriptive qualitative research design. 26 music texts and 5 ritual speeches were purposively sampled for analysis. The techniques for gathering data during the study included audio recording, interviews, and Focused Group Discussions. The data was transcribed, and then translated from Lubukusu to English. Translation was done by two translators who were proficient in Lubukusu and English. Content Analysis was used in the analysis of the ritual discourses. The research was guided by Critical Discourse Analysis theory to address the hegemonies. Systemic Functional Linguistics was also employed as a support theory in analyzing the functionalism of ritual discourse. According to preliminary research, male dominance and female subjugation are visible in the artistic compositions used during the Bukusu circumcision process. The language choices selected propagate gender stereotypes while upholding the status quo. For both men and women, gender inequality is recognized as a risk and limiting factor in as far as social inclusion is concerned. The present study aims to determine how gender disparities and power relations are maintained and propagated through language. The findings are intended to mitigate linguistic types of social prejudice in Lubukusu circumcision discourse.D. Phil. (Language, Linguistics and Literature)Linguistics and Modern Language
A digitilisation model for improving operational efficiency: a case of a South African insurance company
No full textDigitalisation is the integration of digital technology in business operations to enhance
efficiencies. This shift has transformed strategies in the insurance industry, leading to
greater competitiveness, revenue growth, and productivity. However, current research
on the relationship between digitalisation and business processes in the South African
(SA) insurance industry is limited, with little emphasis on environmental, technological,
and industry factors. In addition, research on digitalisation in developing countries,
particularly in SA, remains scarce.
The aim of this research is to investigate how digitalisation can improve operational
efficiency in the South African insurance industry. The study employed the technology organisation-environment (TOE) framework along with contingency theory (CT) as its
theoretical basis to attain this goal. The research centres on digital innovation within
the industry, using a SA insurer as a case study to create an adaptable digitalisation
model.
This research employs a qualitative case study approach, adopting an interpretivist
perspective and focusing on the insurance industry. The study gathered data through
a thematic analysis of semi-structured, open-ended interviews and document analysis.
The findings highlight the difficulties the SA insurance industry faces, such as a
dependence on traditional communication methods, high costs for smaller firms, and
slow adoption of digital technologies. Even though automation has enhanced
processes, challenges related to data security remain. In addition, ineffective
leadership, unclear strategies, and barriers related to regulatory compliance
particularly concerning the Protection of Information Act (POPIA) further hinder
progress. Consequently, collaboration is necessary to address these barriers and
promote faster digital adoption.
This study enhances the understanding of digital innovation in the SA insurance
industry by identifying adoption patterns, trends, and key focus areas for practitioners,
policymakers, and researchers while inspiring new frameworks and advancing a
digitalisation model for emerging markets.M. Sc. (Computing (Information Systems))School of Computin
Measuring the influence of Africa foundation’s community development projects on community livelihoods In Southern and Eastern Africa
No full textResearch and literature explore the effects of development projects on people’s livelihoods, but there is a gap in identifying which interventions work best, for whom and how. By using sustainable tourism approaches, sustainable livelihood methods are developed which are investigated, evaluated, and measured. In so doing, determining how corporate social responsibility (CSR) organisations, in this case, &Beyond’s partner organisation - Africa Foundation’s community development projects, have an influence on community sustainable livelihoods. To improve community livelihoods, there is a need to include factors such as human capital, natural capital, financial capital, physical capital, and social capital, all of which are aligned with the sustainable development goals. These five categories are the pillars for communities to use and live by, to meet their basic needs and how they can modify and adapt to changes. Using the study results, projects can be refined and improved, thus influencing, and affecting community livelihoods more positively. Rural development projects and sustainable livelihood approaches are key to improvements in community resilience. Community empowerment, through education, training and fully understanding vulnerabilities will lead to better community flexibility. This research measures sustainable livelihoods according to the “Sustainable Livelihood Framework” (SLF) indicator; livelihood adaptation, vulnerability, and resilience in communities adjacent to protected areas in Eastern and Southern Africa. Achieving sustainable livelihoods naturally depends on reducing the vulnerability of a community and not just increasing its income. Africa Foundation aims to empower and uplift rural communities near to protected conservation areas, creating a long- term relationship, whilst enabling conservation. The aim of the study was to develop a framework of criteria to measure community livelihood adaptation, vulnerability, and resilience where Africa Foundation’s projects are taking place. Contributions are thus made towards long-term sustainability, by addressing poverty alleviation and inequalities within communities. The study follows a pragmatic approach including case studies of qualitative and quantitative ethnographic research. Qualitative data collection included interviewing, discussions, personal interaction, visual and text reviews, and participant observations. Linking these findings to literature, created an outline of criteria that will measure the sustainable livelihoods of communities according to the SLF indicator, namely: livelihood adaptation, vulnerability, and resilience.D. Phil. (Environmental Management)Environmental Science
Social acceptance, perceptions and attitudes towards renewable energy technologies : a case of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa
No full textResidents of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality in the Free State, South Africa, are beneficiaries of the Solar Water Heating (SWH) programme initiated by the Department of Energy (DoE). The aim of this programme is to mitigate climate change and positively contribute to socio-economic development in these communities. In addition, the programme introduces a new technology, which encompasses change[s] in behaviour, attitudes and perceptions which is central to this research. This research focuses on public acceptance, perceptions and attitudes towards RETs specifically solar water heaters (SHW). To explore this complex social process, three frameworks were employed, namely Energy Culture Framework, Multi-Level Perspective and Rogers Diffusion model. To explore the drivers for acceptance of solar water heaters, a multi case approach was employed, which engaged Thaba Nchu, Botshabelo and Mangaung-Bloemfontein all located in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) in the Free State Province, South Africa. Three methods were used for data collection purposes. An online survey, in-depth interviews and direct observations were conducted with users and non-users of SWHs. The collected quantitative data was analysed using SPSS version 27, while in-depth interviews were analysed using thematic analysis method. This research made four findings. Firstly, the study identified drivers and barriers that occur in the niche level that influence the acceptance, perceptions and attitudes towards SWH. Access to instant hot water for bathing, washing and cooking were identified as one of the main drivers that influences change in energy behaviours and acceptance of SWH in MMM. Majority of women were found using hot water for most of domestic chores around the house. Technical issues, such as lack of maintenance and limited access to water were also further identified as barriers that limited users of SWH to exploit the benefits of the technology, leaving many frustrated and hopeless. Non-users of SWH identified constant load shedding and the increase in electricity prices as a key motivator for them to invest or consider purchasing a SWH. However, upfront costs associated with buying and installing of SWH were also identified as major barrier for non-users. In contrast, others felt discouraged to participate in the rollout of SWH because of the poor quality used. Lastly, it was found that local politicians and councillors play an important role in informing users and non-users about the use and the benefits of SWH. As a result, there was high knowledge and awareness around the benefits of SWHs and renewable technologies. Door-to-door campaigns, word of mouth and public meetings were communication strategies used by the local government to inform the communities about the rollout of the SWH programme and the use of non-scientific language was also adopted, which enables the community to have a better understanding about SWH and the benefits of it. Although, Eskom remains the dominant electricity parastatal in South Africa, actions that are at play in the niche level by the local actors, users and non-users brings about changing their energy behaviour, which challenges the dominant electricity monopoly of Eskom. Coupled with the lack of trust in the parastatal and the continuous load shedding, this presented a finding that suggests that acceptance of SWH can be widespread, provided that government puts measures in place with regards to poor quality of the material of SWH. The study provides insightful sight in how the solar water solar heating programme can provide hot water to low-income households, while lessening electricity financial constraints. Furthermore, the findings can be used towards improving the solar water heating programme, especially at a municipality level, by giving access to energy and hot water to low-income households, while improving the life of users and strengthen policy.Ph. D. (Sociology)Sociolog
Key insights from successful online businesses: applying McLuhan's technology-as-extentions framework to technology and user-centric strategies
No full textText in English with abstract in Afrikaans and ZuluThis study investigates how leading online corporations, namely Alibaba, Binance and Grammarly, have employed technology not merely as tools but as extensions of human capability, thereby contributing to their sustained success. The central research question examines how these companies have leveraged technological extensions to access markets and users that were previously beyond their operational reach. Conducted as a qualitative study grounded in Marshall McLuhan’s theory of technology as extensions, the research draws on interpretive analysis of secondary data, including corporate reports and publicly available publications. The study applies an analytical framework based on McLuhan’s five categories of extension: sensory expansion, cognitive enhancement, societal transformation, sensory overload and the reshaping of connection, to evaluate each company’s strategic use of technology. The findings demonstrate that the companies successfully extended their communicative and operational capabilities through focused innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence, blockchain and language-enhancement technologies. These strategies facilitated broader user acquisition, improved decision-making and reshaped digital engagement. The study concludes that conceptualising technology as an extension of human faculties provides a valuable foundation for digital start-ups aiming for scalable and sustainable growth in the evolving digital economy.Hierdie studie ondersoek hoe toonaangewende aanlyn korporasies, naamlik Alibaba, Binance en Grammarly, tegnologie aangewend het nie net as hulpmiddels nie, maar as uitbreidings van menslike vermoë, en daardeur bygedra het tot hul volgehoue sukses. Die sentrale navorsingsvraag ondersoek hoe hierdie maatskappye tegnologiese uitbreidings aangewend het om toegang te verkry tot markte en gebruikers wat voorheen buite hul operasionele bereik was. Uitgevoer as 'n kwalitatiewe studie wat gegrond is op Marshall McLuhan se teorie van tegnologie as uitbreidings, is die navorsing gebaseer op interpretatiewe ontleding van sekondêre data, insluitend korporatiewe verslae en publiek beskikbare publikasies. Die studie pas 'n analitiese raamwerk toe gebaseer op McLuhan se vyf kategorieë van uitbreiding: sensoriese uitbreiding, kognitiewe verbetering, samelewingstransformasie, sensoriese oorlading en die hervorming van verbinding, om elke maatskappy se strategiese gebruik van tegnologie te evalueer. Die bevindinge toon dat die maatskappye hul kommunikatiewe en operasionele vermoëns suksesvol uitgebrei het deur gefokusde innovasie, veral in kunsmatige intelligensie, blokketting en taalverbeteringstegnologieë. Hierdie strategieë het breër gebruikersverkryging vergemaklik, besluitneming verbeter en digitale betrokkenheid hervorm. Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat konseptualisering van tegnologie as 'n uitbreiding van menslike fakulteite 'n waardevolle grondslag bied vir digitale beginners wat mik na skaalbare en volhoubare groei in die ontwikkelende digitale ekonomie.Lolu cwaningo luphenya ukuthi izinkampani ezihamba phambili ze-inthanethi, okuyi-Alibaba, i-Binance kanye ne-Grammarly, zisebenzise ubuchwepheshe hhayi nje njengamathuluzi kodwa njengezandiso zamandla abantu, ngaleyo ndlela zibe negalelo empumelelweni yazo eqhubekayo. Umbuzo obalulekile wocwaningo uhlola ukuthi lezi zinkampani zisebenzise kanjani izandiso zobuchwepheshe ukuze zifinyelele izimakethe nabasebenzisi abebengaphezu kwamandla abo okusebenza ngaphambilini. Olwenziwa njengocwaningo lwekhwalithi olusekelwe kumbono kaMarshall McLuhan wobuchwepheshe njengezandiso, ucwaningo ludonsela ekuhlaziyweni okutolikayo kwedatha yesibili, okuhlanganisa imibiko yezinkampani kanye nokushicilelwe okutholakala esidlangalaleni. Ucwaningo lusebenzisa uhlaka lokuhlaziya olusekelwe ezigabeni ezinhlanu zokunwetshwa kukaMcLuhan: ukunwetshwa kwezinzwa, ukuthuthukiswa kwengqondo, ukuguqulwa komphakathi, ukugcwala kwezinzwa kanye nokubunjwa kabusha kokuxhumana, ukuze kuhlolwe ukusetshenziswa kwesu lobuchwepheshe kwenkampani ngayinye. Okutholakele kubonisa ukuthi izinkampani zandise ngempumelelo amakhono azo okuxhumana nawokusebenza ngokusungula izinto ezintsha ezigxilile, ikakhulukazi kwezobuhlakani bokwenziwa, i-blockchain kanye nobuchwepheshe bokuthuthukisa ulimi. Lawa maqhinga enze lula ukutholwa kwabasebenzisi okubanzi, ukwenziwa kwezinqumo okuthuthukisiwe kanye nokubandakanyeka kwedijithali okumise kabusha. Ucwaningo luphetha ngokuthi ubuchwepheshe bokucabanga njengesandiso samakhono abantu kunikeza isisekelo esibalulekile sokuqala kwedijithali okuhloswe ngayo ukukhula okunokwehla nokusimeme emnothweni wedijithali othuthukayo.M.A. (Communication Science)Communication Scienc
The implications of integrating science technology engineering and mathematics in Namibian early childhood education programmes
No full textAbstracts in English, Setswana and ZuluThis study delves into the critical integration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) within Namibian Early Childhood Education (ECE) programmes, highlighting its profound implications. Employing a robust concurrent triangulation mixed-method design rooted in pragmatic philosophy and guided by the Social and Cognitive Constructivism (SCC) theoretical framework, the research utilised both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. A total of 168 ECE teachers participated through structured questionnaires administered via a four-point Likert-type scale Google online survey. Subsequently, qualitative insights were gathered through semi-structured interviews with four ECE lecturers from the University of Namibia. The quantitative data were meticulously analysed using descriptive statistics and correlation analyses in IBM SPSS version 25, complemented by graphical representations for clarity. Additionally, a thorough document analysis of ECE policies was conducted. The qualitative data, derived from open-ended survey questions and interview guidelines, were systematically categorised into themes using thematic analysis with Atlas.ti version 23.
The study uncovered significant challenges impeding the effective integration of STEM and ICT in early childhood education, including policy constraints, financial limitations, inadequate infrastructure and insufficient ICT tools. It also identified critical issues, such as digital disparities in computer literacy, internet safety concerns and a lack of comprehensive teacher training. Other challenges included insufficient pedagogical knowledge, misalignment of the curricula with ECE and ICT policies, overcrowded classrooms, time constraints for implementation and technological hurdles faced by the teachers. Based on its findings, the study proposes a strategic set of solutions to combat these obstacles. It introduces a Strategic Conceptual Framework aimed at enhancing the successful implementation of STEM programmes in ECE. This framework is designed to provide actionable strategies to overcome the identified challenges, paving the way for a more effective educational landscape. Furthermore, the study offers valuable recommendations for future research, ensuring that the journey towards integrating STEM in ECE continues to evolve and improve.Patlisiso e e tsenelela mo go kopanyeng go go botlhokwa ga Saense, Thekenoloji, Boenjenere le Dipalo (STEM) mo teng ga mananeo a Thuto ya Bana ba Bannye (ECE) a naga ya Namibia, e tlhagisa ditlamorago tsa yone tse di tseneletseng. Ka go dirisa moakanyetso o o nonofileng wa mekgwa e e tlhakaneng ya go dira dikarolo tse tharo ka nako e le nngwe o o theilweng mo filosofing ya mmatota mme gape e kaelwa ke letlhomeso la kgopolo la Loago le Popo ya Kitso ka Maitemogelo (SCC), patlisiso e dirisitse mekgwa ya go kokoanya tshedimosetso ya bontsi (khwantheithifi) le ya boleng (khwaletheithifi). Palogotlhe ya barutabana ba le 168 ba ECE ba ne ba tsaya karolo ka dipampiri tsa dipotso tse di rulagantsweng tse di neng di dirisiwa ka patlisiso ya mafaratlhatlha ya Google ya sekale sa mofuta wa Likert sa dintlha di le nne. Morago ga moo, go ne ga kokoanngwa dintlha tsa boleng ka dipotsolotso tse di rulagantsweng ka bontlhabongwe le batlhatlheledi ba le bane ba ECE go tswa kwa Yunibesithing ya Namibia. Tshedimosetso ya bontsi e ne ya sekasekwa ka kelotlhoko go dirisiwa dipalopalo tse di tlhalosang le ditshekatsheko tsa kgolagano mo IBM SPSS tsa mofuta wa 25, tse di tlalelediwang ke ditshwantsho tsa dikerafo gore di tlhaloganyege sentle. Mo godimo ga moo, go ne ga dirwa tshekatsheko e e tseneletseng ya ditokomane tsa dipholisi tsa ECE. Tshedimosetso ya boleng, e e tswang mo dipotsong tsa patlisiso tse di bulegileng le dikaedi tsa dipotsolotso, e ne ya aroganngwa ka thulaganyo ka ditlhogo go dirisiwa tshekatsheko ya ditlhogo ka Atlas.ti mofuta wa 23.
Patlisiso e ribolotse dikgwetlho tse di botlhokwa tse di kgoreletsang go kopanngwa go go atlegileng ga STEM le Thekenoloji ya Tshedimosetso le Tlhaeletsano (ICT) mo thutong ya bana ba bannye, go akaretsa le dikgoreletsi tsa pholisi, dikgoreletsi tsa matlole, mafaratlhatlha a a sa lekanang le didirisiwa tsa ICT tse di sa lekanang. E supile gape dintlha tse di botlhokwa, jaaka go sa lekalekane ga dijithale mo go tlhaloganyeng ka ga dikhomphiutha, matshwenyego a tshireletsego ya mafaratlhatlha le go tlhoka katiso e e tseneletseng ya barutabana. Dikgwetlho tse dingwe di ne di akaretsa kitso e e sa lekanang ya thuto, go sa tsamaisane ga dikharikhulamo le dipholisi tsa ECE le ICT, diphaposiborutelo tse di neng di tletse thata, go tlhoka nako ya go tsenya tirisong le dikgoreletsi tsa thekenoloji tse barutabana ba lebaganeng le tsone. Go tswa mo ditphitlhelelong tsa yone, patlisiso e tshitshinya setlhopha sa ditharabololo tsa togamaano tsa go mekamekana le dikgoreletsi tse. E tlhagisa Letlhomeso la Dikgopolo la Togamaano le le ikaeletseng go tokafatsa go tsenngwa tirisong ka katlego ga mananeo a STEM mo go ECE. Letlhomeso le le diretswe go tlamela ka maano a a ka tsewang kgato go fenya dikgwetlho tse di supilweng, ka maikaelelo a go simolola maemo a thuto a a tokafaditsweng. Mo godimo ga moo, patlisiso e e naya dikgakololo tsa botlhokwa tsa patlisiso ya mo isagong, go tlhomamisa gore loeto lwa go kopanya STEM mo go ECE lo tswelela go fetoga le go tokafala.Lolu cwaningo lucubungula ukuhlanganiswa okubalulekile kweSayensi, Ubuchwepheshe, Ubunjiniyela kanye neZibalo (STEM) ngaphakathi kwezinhlelo zaseNamibia Zokufunda Kwabantwana Abasebancane (ECE), okugqamisa imithelela yazo ejulile. Kusetshenziswa umklamo oqinile wendlela exubile kanxantathu osuselwe emqondweni wemiphumela engokoqobo futhi eqondiswa uhlaka lombono olubonakalayo ekwakheni ulwazi (SCC), ucwaningo lwasebenzisa izindlela zokuqoqa imininingwane yobuningi nezinga eliphezulu. Othisha abangu-168 be-ECE babambe iqhaza ngohlu lwemibuzo oluhlelekile olulawulwa ngamaphuzu amane ohlobo lwesilinganiso se-Likert inhlolovo ye-Google eku-inthanethi.
Kamuva, kwaqoqwa imininingwane echazayo ngezingxoxo ezingahlelekile nabafundisi abane be-ECE abavela eMfundweni Ephakeme yaseNamibia. Imininingwane yobuningi ihlaziywe ngokucophelela kusetshenziswa izibalo ezichazayo nokuhlaziywa kokuhlobana kunguqulo 25 ye-IBM SPSS, ehambisana nokuvezwa kwezithombe ukuze kucace. Ukwengeza, ukuhlaziywa kwemibhalo okuphelele kwezinqubomgomo ze-ECE kwenziwa. Imininingwane ngokuchazayo, etholakala emibuzweni yenhlolovo evulekile neziqondiso zenhlolokhono, yahlukaniswa ngokuhlelekile ngezindikimba kusetshenziswa ukuhlaziywa kwendikimba ngenguqulo ye-Atlas.ti 23.
Ucwaningo lwembule izinselela ezibalulekile ezithiya ukuhlanganiswa okuphumelelayo kwe-STEM ne-ICT emfundweni yezingane ezisencane, okuhlanganisa izithiyo zenqubomgomo, ukulinganiselwa kwezezimali, ingqalasizinda enganele kanye namathuluzi e-ICT anganele. Iphinde yahlonza izinkinga ezibucayi, ezifana nokungafani kwedijithali ekufundeni ngamakhompyutha, ukukhathazeka ngokuphepha kwe-inthanethi kanye nokuntuleka kokuqeqeshwa kothisha okuphelele. Ezinye izinselela zazibandakanya ulwazi olunganele lokufundisa, ukungahambi kahle kohlelo lokufunda nezinqubomgomo ze-ECE kanye ne-ICT, amagumbi okufundela aminyene, ukuncipha kwesikhathi sokuqalisa kanye nezithiyo zobuchwepheshe othisha ababhekene nazo. Ngokusekelwe ekutholeni kwalo, ucwaningo luphakamisa iqoqo lamasu ezixazululo zokulwa nalezi zithiyo. Yethula Uhlaka Lwezinjongo Zesikhathi Eside okuhloswe ngalo ukuthuthukisa ukuqaliswa ngempumelelo kwezinhlelo ze-STEM ku-ECE. Lolu hlaka luklanyelwe ukuhlinzeka ngamasu asebenzayo okunqoba izinselela ezihlonziwe, okuvula indlela yesimo semfundo esebenza ngempumelelo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ucwaningo lunikeza iziphakamiso ezibalulekile zocwaningo lwesikhathi esizayo, okuqinisekisa ukuthi uhambo lokuhlanganisa i-STEM ku-ECE luyaqhubeka nokuvela futhi luthuthuke.D. Phil. (Education)Early Childhood Educatio
Mission in India beyond 2022: religious and political atmospheres, persecutions against christian converts, and conversion chaos
No full textText in EnglishFinding a reliable answer is the primary purpose of this research.
In the context of existing and emerging challenges of various kinds, the concern arises is how to prepare the Church in India with the right biblical understanding of the mission and be adequately equipped to fulfill the Mission of God for greater growth. This research intends to find an answer to this concern. The primary question, “Why the Church at large in India has been facing an increasingly adverse atmosphere in the last two decades and how could the Church carry out its missions successfully in such a scenario?” drives the research.
The paper makes an unbiased assessment of the missional activities in the past, finds real causes for existing tension between Hindu fundamentalists and missional Christians, understands the resistances against conversion, finds realities behind violence against Christians by Hindu nationalists, speculate the kind of contexts India is likely to have in the next decade, suggestions missional Christians and churches need to rework their philosophy of mission for better results in the future and to suggest the way forward for the missional Christian community and churches to carry out the mission of God relevantly in future.
This research incorporated bibliographic inquiries to establish an adequate knowledge of the literature relevant to the research problem and empirical investigations. The qualitative paradigm took place in a natural setting. The researcher looked for the involvement of his participants or samples in data collection and built rapport and credibility with the individuals in the study. The research findings are expressed using descriptive language.
The research is concluded with suggestions and recommendations given to the Church at large in India for Her to move forward with better missional accomplishments in the years yet to come.Ph. D. (Missiology)Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiolog
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No full textn/aThere is a lack of skilled workers in cybersecurity with a global under-representation of women in this profession. In Africa, women represent only nine per cent of the cybersecurity profession, facing various challenges and barriers to entering and progressing as cybersecurity professionals. This study applied a scoping literature review to identify and consolidate the challenges women face entering and working through the ranks of the cybersecurity profession in Africa. A Gender Inclusivity Framework for the Cybersecurity Profession in Africa is proposed in this study, incorporating the requisite organisational theory and the findings from the literature review. By advocating change that needs to happen at a resource, societal, educational, organisational, and government level, the research offers a holistic framework to transform the cybersecurity profession in Africa into a more equitable field, emphasizing the empowerment of African women.College of Engineering, Science and Technologyn/
Joint spatiotemporal modelling of tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus in Ethiopia using a Bayesian hierarchical approach
Full text linkAbstract Background The aim of this paper was to evaluate the distribution of HIV and TB in Ethiopia during four years (2015-2018) at the district level, considering both spatial and temporal patterns. Methods Consolidated data on the count of TB case notifications and the number of patients with HIV for four years, 2015-2018, were provided by the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health. The data was analyzed using the Bayesian hierarchical approach, employing joint spatiotemporal modelling. The integrated nested Laplace approximation available in the R-INLA package was used to fit six models, each with different priors, for the precision parameters of the random effects variances. The best-fitting model with the best predictive capacity was selected using the Deviance Information Criterion and the negative sum of cross-validatory predictive log-likelihood. Results According to the findings of the selected model, about 53% of the variability in TB and HIV incidences in the study period was explained by the shared temporal component, disease-specific spatial effect of HIV, and space-time interaction effect. The shared temporal trend and disease-specific temporal trend of HIV risk showed a slight upward trend between 2015 and 2017, followed by a slight decrease in 2018. However, the disease-specific temporal trend of TB risk had almost constant trend with minimal variation over the study period. The distribution of the shared relative risks was similar to the distribution of disease-specific TB relative risk, whereas that of HIV had more districts as high-risk areas. Conclusions The study showed the spatial similarity in the distribution of HIV and TB case notifications in specific districts within various provinces. Moreover, the shared relative risks exhibit a temporal pattern and spatial distribution that closely resemble those of the relative risks specific to HIV illness. The existence of districts with shared relative risks implies the need for collaborative surveillance of HIV and TB, as well as integrated interventions to control the two diseases jointly
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No full textN/APersonal information, as a key resource for companies, must be kept confidential as per the relevant data protection regulations. The same data protec-tion regulations provide employees and customers the right to control their per-sonal information. IT software is used to create, edit, store, and delete this personal information. However, cyber-attacks, security concerns, and data breaches relating to the personal information of customers and employees occur at an alarming rate, violating the confidentiality and privacy of said customers and employees. Privacy by Design (PbD) should be embedded into traditional Information Technology (IT) software development life cycles (SDLCs) to minimise data loss or breaches of personal information to aid in ensuring end-to-end privacy and confidentiality of personal data. Moreover, IT software must comply with data protection regulations to minimise data loss or breaches of personal information. A scoping literature review was conducted to gain insight into PbD and data protection regulations principles that are embedded into IT SDLC phases. Relevant articles were anal-ysed using a qualitative approach. Privacy-preserving measures are identified that can be used to meet the PbD and data protection regulations requirements. The contribution of this paper is a holistic list of privacy-preserving measures that can be utilised to embed privacy considerations data protection regulations into the IT SDLC phases.College of Engineering, Science and TechnologyN/