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An overview of torrefied bioresource briquettes: quality-influencing parameters, enhancement through torrefaction and applications
No full textAbstract
In recent years, the need for clean, viable and sustainable source of alternative fuel is on the rampage in the global space due to the challenges posed by human factors including fossil induced emissions, fuel shortage and its ever-rising prices. These challenges are the major reason to utilize alternative source of energy such as lignocellulosic biomass as domestic and industrial feedstock. However, biomass in their raw form is problematic for application, hence, a dire need for torrefaction pre-treatment is required. The torrefaction option could ameliorate biomass limitations such as low heating value, high volatile matter, low bulk density, hygroscopic and combustion behaviour, low energy density and its fibrous nature. The torrefied product in powder form could cause air pollution and make utilization, handling, transportation, and storage challenging, hence, densification into product of higher density briquettes. This paper therefore provides an overview on the performance of torrefied briquettes from agricultural wastes. The review discusses biomass and their constituents, torrefaction pre-treatment, briquetting of torrefied biomass, the parameters influencing the quality, behaviour and applications of torrefied briquettes, and way forward in the briquetting sector in the developing world
Effects of psychological determinants on pro-environmental behaviour: a study conducted with university students in Ethiopia
No full textThe overall aim of the present research was to investigate the psychological and social factors underpinning pro-environmental behaviour assessed as reduction of electricity use and disposal of waste materials in the context of university students. In three cross-sectional studies, a total of 800 students, who were conveniently sampled from the University of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia (i.e., 200 undergraduate and 600 postgraduate), participated in the research. In these studies, we tested the interplay between self-transcendent and self-enhancing values, environmental beliefs, and personal norms in explaining pro-environmental behaviour as predicted by the value-belief-norm theory (Studies 1, 2, and 3) and its conditionality upon social class (Studies 2 and 3), cultural orientations (Study 2), and social norms (Study 3). All three studies provided evidence that the value-belief-norm theory is appropriate to explain a significant proportion of variance in pro-environmental behaviour. Moreover, the results of Study 2 and 3 revealed that the relationships between value orientations and pro-environmental behaviour through environmental beliefs and personal norms are indeed partially conditional upon social class (Study 2 and 3), cultural orientations (Study 2), and social norms (Study 3). The findings of the present research have theoretical, policy, and practical implications, which are relevant for environmental protection interventions in the context of higher education institutions in Ethiopia in general and the University of Addis Ababa, in particular.Ph. D. (Psychology)Psycholog
Determinants of agriculture sector growth in upper middle-income countries : How relevant is financial development?
No full textFinance, Risk Management and Bankin
Public Relations case study: LEGO
No full textA case study on LegoColleges of Economic and Management Science
Exploring ethics risk in South Africa’s artificial intelligence industry : towards a risk governance framework
Get PDFThe ubiquitous and swift growth of artificial intelligence (AI) coupled with the nature of the technology raises ethical risks for enterprises and for their stakeholders. Artificial intelligence's ethical risks are unlikely to be uniform across or within societies. The literature on AI ethics is, however, dominated by a universalistic, Global North outlook. This exploratory study aims to add to the discourse by providing a Global South perspective: examining domain-specific AI ethics risks in South African industry from an ethics risk governance perspective. The study uses an inductive, qualitative methodology to explore industry practitioners and related experts' views and approaches to AI ethics. A novel research instrument was used, and data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The data was thematically analysed, and several salient themes identified. Theoretically, the study relates AI ethics to business ethics, ethics risk governance, and the King Code. Empirically, the study provides a multi-level (universal, country, and industry) view of AI ethics risks, and identifies relevant external and internal industry governance factors. It maps the prevailing AI ethics management practice in South Africa, which is found to be informal and ad hoc, albeit with nascent signs of a more structured, tailored approach. It also compares the South African findings to that of the dominant Global North literature. The study proposes a South African-centric, high-level conceptual framework for AI ethics risk governance, which can be contextually adapted for wider relevance. The study makes policy recommendations to industry and government to control, govern, and manage AI ethics risks.D.B.L. (Business Leadership)Business Managemen
A multi-dimensional framework for implementing health system reform in South Africa
No full textHealth systems are pivotal to ensure that individuals have access to affordable, equitable, quality and sustainable healthcare services. South Africa is reforming its health system to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to improve population healthcare access while ensuring financial risk protection. Despite policies to realise UHC, there are leadership and governance weaknesses across the health system, and poor quality healthcare. There are also reports of inadequate stakeholder engagements about the envisaged health reform. The goal of the study was to conceptualise a multi-dimensional framework for implementing health system reform in South Africa. A case study research strategy was used to explore and describe the complexities within the health system by analysing, multi-dimensionally, the role of leadership and governance in health system reform; how leadership may influence service delivery and determine the service delivery challenges in South African healthcare facilities; and the role of stakeholders and their influence in the health reform process.
The participants consisted of stakeholders within the health system, namely, National Department of Health, regulators, medical schemes, medical scheme administrator, healthcare facilities, funder association, labour unions, and an independent medical practitioner. The sample comprised of 26 participants. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the selected participants.
The findings revealed that there are several governance challenges in both the public and private sectors, and boards have been non-existent at various levels of the public sector. Poor service delivery is due to limited government funding, ailing infrastructure and lack of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) systems to support work processes. Stakeholders, mainly in the private sector, believed that they were not engaged about the health reform process. The process has been politically driven and ordinary citizens were not engaged from the start.
The dimensions of theories (leadership and governance; service delivery; and stakeholders) and the study findings, informed by the analysed multi-dimensionality of the phenomenon, have been integrated to develop a conceptual framework on how health system reform may be implemented. The conceptual framework is a tool to bridge the identified gaps in literature, and to guide policymakers to implement health system reform effectively.D. B. L.Business Managemen
Engendering Community Support for Conservation: A Case Study of Kekana Gardens Community and Dinokeng Game Reserve, South Africa
No full textSuccessful conservation in Africa hinges on the perceptions of communities bordering protected areas. It
is therefore vital for protected area stakeholders to know the perceptions of neighbouring communities
in order to determine the factors that generate or undermine community support for conservation, so
that appropriate management interventions can be implemented. Numerous studies consider benefits, but
less relate to perceptions regarding both losses/costs and intangible benefits. This paper demonstrates a
methodology with which to determine these factors, focusing on Kekana Gardens community, bordering
Dinokeng Game Reserve, in Gauteng Province, South Africa. This qualitative study with 13 residents
utilised focus group interviews and adapted nominal grouping technique. Six themes emerged, four of which
comprise intangible benefits. This methodology can be applied to any community bordering a conservation
area, assisting in crafting solutions that benefit both people and parks.Environmental Science
Influence of lecturer absenteeism on technical and vocational education and training students’ academic performance in Limpopo Province
Get PDFSince 1998, South Africa has seen substantial expansion in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). In this sector, education and training were targeted at empowering South African youth. Policies have been developed and implemented to manage the absenteeism of lecturers but absenteeism seems to be increasing. The purpose of the study was to study the influence of lecturer absenteeism on TVET college students’ academic performance in Limpopo province. A qualitative approach was used and a case study method was applied in an attempt to meet the purpose of this study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and observations. In this study semi-structured interviews were conducted with 8 students, 4 lecturers and 4 education specialists. Data were analyzed using thematic data analysis method. The findings demonstrated that college-related issues, personal issues and lecturer-related issues contribute to lecturer absenteeism. Poor management and supervision were also found to be contributing factors to lecturer absenteeism. It was also discovered that lecturer absenteeism has an influence on student dropout, syllabus completion, lecturer substitution and college pass rate. This study recommended that the TVET College should implement disciplinary measures, high motivation and access system to ensure that lecturers follow policies and avoid absenteeism without notice/valid reason.M. Ed. (Educational Management)Educational Management and Leadershi
Effect of infrastructure on FDI behaviour in Kenya: a Growth Nexus Analysis
No full textThis study investigates the effect of infrastructure on foreign direct investment (FDI) in Kenya. The study further investigates the effects of FDI on economic growth in Kenya. The study’s objectives lead to the examination of the nexus between FDI, infrastructure and economic growth in Kenya over the period 1970-2019. In the study, both FDI and economic growth are analysed with either infrastructure composite index (INFR), transport infrastructure, energy infrastructure, ICT infrastructure, or water infrastructure. INFR composite index is generated through the principal composite analysis to estimate a system effect of the individual models.
Control variables are included in the models. The control variables consist of some of the key determinants of FDI inflows and which also determine economic growth including market openness, inflation rate, exchange rate, financial development and labour resources.
The study variables are first tested for unit root using Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF); Phillips Perron (PP); and Kwiatkowski, Phillips, Schmidt and Shin (KPSS) tests. The unit root results indicate that the variables of the study are a mixture of I (0) and I (1). Hence Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Bounds approach is best suited to determine the cointegration of the variables and the long-run relationships. Where cointegration exists, error correction analysis is carried out to determine the long-run dynamics and the short-run causal effects. When there is no cointegration, a short-run analysis is carried out to determine the short-run causal effects. Granger causality test is finally undertaken to test the study's null hypotheses. The diagnostic tests of the time series models are carried out at every appropriate stage.
The ARDL bounds test results reveal that FDI, infrastructure and economic growth are cointegrated. The Granger causality tests confirm that infrastructure Granger causes FDI, FDI Granger causes infrastructure development, infrastructure Granger causes economic growth, and economic growth Granger causes infrastructure development. Therefore, a bi-directional relationship can be said to exist between FDI and infrastructure development, and between economic growth and infrastructure development. The study results find that the hypotheses that economic growth Granger causes FDI, and FDI Granger causes economic growth are not supported by data for Kenya.
The long-run and short-run regression analyses results show that infrastructure (composite index) has a statistically significant positive effect on FDI both in the long and short-run. Transport infrastructure significantly and positively influences FDI in the long-run and economic growth in the short-run. Water infrastructure has a significant positive effect on FDI in the long-run. The ICT infrastructure has a significant negative effect on FDI in the short-run and a significant positive net effect on economic growth. FDI has a significant positive effect on water infrastructure in the short-run. Economic growth has a positive effect on infrastructure (composite index) and water infrastructure in the short-run.
The study results imply that a meaningful inflow of FDI into Kenya is contingent on infrastructure development. Government of Kenya policies should revolve around increasing infrastructure investment, especially in transport and water. Investment in ICT (telephony connections) might not be useful in attracting FDI. A conducive environment should be created to encourage inflows of FDI and growth of the economy, both of which have a causal effect on infrastructure development.
The policies intended to improve FDI inflows, economic growth and infrastructure development may require to be augmented with complementary policy initiatives that would include opening the market, macroeconomic stability, improving human resources and institutional development.D. Phil. (Management Studies)Business Managemen
Reflections Upon our Way of Invoking an Indigenous Paradigm to Co-Explore Community Mobilization against Irresponsible Practices of Foreign-Owned Companies in Nwoya District, Uganda
No full textThis article offers our reflections upon how we invoked an Indigenous paradigm in undertaking/facilitating qualitative research in a setting in Northern Uganda (2020/2021). The research was aimed at co-exploring with participants how they mobilized as a community against social and environmental injustices attendant with the entry of certain foreign enterprises into their community. We set up four focus group sessions in three villages to generate discussion in regard to how they had built up a community protest (with some success) against the operations of two enterprises who had been
operational in the community. In our article we do not concentrate so much on the content of the focus group sessions (or the ensuing dissemination/discussion workshop), but rather, on how we enacted our understanding of an Indigenous paradigm in this research initiative. In this way we share possibilities for activating an Indigenous paradigm in the doing of research. We do this in order to help strengthen and further credentialize this paradigm in academic paradigmatic discourses and help secure its respected place on the paradigmatic “dance floor” (to use a metaphor offered by Chilisa, 2020).Adult Basic Education (ABET