30 research outputs found
BRICS in Africa: promoting development
No full textSummary of the discussion held at the book launch at Exclusive Books, V&A Waterfront, 11 OctoberAn enlightening book launch was held at Exclusive Books in the V&A Waterfront, featuring a distinguished panel including the book's co-editors Krish Chetty, Dr. Yul Derek Davids, and contributing
author Dr. Jaya Josie. The event centred around their new book, which delves into the intricate
dynamics of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) nations and their influence on African
development.N/
A BRICS public AI strategy for innovation promotion and cooperation
No full textPaper presented at the 8th Global Think Tank Summit Hosted by CCIEE, 5 JulyThank you, Chair. Good morning, Colleagues. My name is Krish Chetty. It's my privilege to speak
to you today and participate in this esteemed forum. I am a senior research manager from South
Africa, where I am studying how AI can be a tool to solve social challenges affecting the Global
South, including the BRICS. We are developing a chatbot for you to talk to my organisation's research outputs and write several papers about how we should apply AI. Today, I want to talk about our need for an AI strategy in BRICS, specifically, to drive scientific and educational cooperation. In BRICS circles, you often hear about the need for Collaboration ePlatform to drive BRICS cooperation. Well this presentation describes a strategy to launch that platform.N/
How to Promote Worker Wellbeing in the Platform Economy in the Global SouthHow to Promote Worker Wellbeing in the Platform Economy in the Global South
No full textFil: Aneja, Urvashi. Tandem Research; IndiaFil: Chetty, Krish. Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC); SudáfricaFil: Albrieu, Ramiro. CEDES. Centro de Estudio de Estado y Sociedad, Área de Economía. Centro de Implementación de Políticas Públicas para la Equidad y el Crecimiento (CIPPEC); ArgentinaFil: Rapetti, Martín. CEDES. Centro de Estudio de Estado y Sociedad, Área de Economía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Centro de Implementación de Políticas Públicas para la Equidad y el Crecimiento (CIPPEC); ArgentinaThe growth of the platform economy is creating new opportunities and efficiencies in G20 economies. However, gig-work can often be precarious, with reduced access to formal social protection mechanisms. This poses unique opportunities and challenges for many G20 countries, where a large section of the workforce is engaged in informal work across both the unorganised and organised sectors of the economy. For the sustained and inclusive growth of the platform economy, the wellbeing of workers must be prioritized. Drawing on research undertaken in India, South Africa and Argentina, this policy brief outlines strategies for governments, industries and civil society to safeguard and enhance worker well being in the platform economy
Data warehousing in the age of big data
No full textData Warehousing in the Age of the Big Data will help you and your organization make the most of unstructured data with your existing data warehouse. As Big Data continues to revolutionize how we use data, it doesn't have to create more confusion. Expert author Krish Krishnan helps you make sense of how Big Data fits into the world of data warehousing in clear and concise detail. The book is presented in three distinct parts. Part 1 discusses Big Data, its technologies and use cases from early adopters. Part 2 addresses data warehousing, its shortcomings, and new architectur
Technological innovation and the future of work: a view from the South
No full textFil: Albrieu, Ramiro. CEDES. Centro de Estudio de Estado y Sociedad, Área de Economía. Centro de Implementación de Políticas Públicas para la Equidad y el Crecimiento (CIPPEC); ArgentinaFil: Aneja, Urvashi. Tandem Research; IndiaFil: Chetty, Krish. Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC); SudáfricaFil: Mathur, Vikrom. Tandem Research; IndiaFil: Rapetti, Martín. CEDES. Centro de Estudio de Estado y Sociedad, Área de Economía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Centro de Implementación de Políticas Públicas
para la Equidad y el Crecimiento (CIPPEC); ArgentinaFil: Uhlig, Antje. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ); AlemaniaA global narrative about technological change and the future of work is
emerging. It states that technological innovation will be pervasive across the
world, and the impacts on labor markets will be deep but largely transitory.
Will the future of work look the same everywhere? On the one hand, evidence
points to developing countries lagging behind in terms of technological
diffusion and the re-skilling of their current and future workers. This could
exacerbate development gaps with respect to advanced countries as has
happened in previous technological "revolutions". On the other, structural
factors that are country-specific -such as demographics, factor endowments,
gender gaps- may cause new technologies to have different impacts on labor
markets. We believe that the menu of policy options that the G20 is
developing should ideally start with country-specific diagnoses taking into
account these structural factors. However, given that this may be unreachable
in the short run, we recommend to start monitoring the trends in
technological adoption and skills development in each G20 country. For this,
more and better data is needed
Navigating the Transition to Inclusive Online Learning in BRICS and Africa
No full textIn response to COVID-19 lockdowns, universities in Africa and BRICS nations swiftly transitioned from contact to online learning to maintain academic progress. This article explores critical questions these institutions must address to develop effective long-term online learning policies, rooted in Swartz’s (2022) Navigational Capacities framework. It highlights the risk of deepening digital inequalities if the limitations of emergency remote learning are overlooked. Focusing on the experiences of the BRICS, Ghana, Uganda, and Ethiopia, the article analyses their online learning approaches during 2020 and 2021 amidst the pandemic. This analysis, through the Navigational Capacities lens, emphasises addressing key challenges such as technology access, affordability, and digital skills. Many universities initially transferred traditional teaching methods to online platforms without a pedagogical redesign to optimise digital tools, underscoring a need for a strategic shift. Going forward, universities must understand the requirements of an effective long-term online learning programme, weighing the economic costs of such an approach. Crucially, universities across BRICS and the Global South must continue to share knowledge about these experiences as they develop policies which define an effective long-term online learning programme
Identifying social indicators for the BRICS using public data: an investigation of the school dropout phenomenon in Brazil, India and South Africa
No full textThesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2017.ENGLISH SUMMARY : The Brazilian, Russian, Indian, Chinese and South African (BRICS) Heads of State in 2014, in Fortaleza Brazil called for the closer cooperation of their statistical agencies and experts to promote the identification of common data methodologies that can be employed to analyse social indicators which measure a common set of challenges in their countries. The study examines the possibility of using data produced locally within Brazil, India and South Africa specifically to assess the singular but complex phenomenon of learners dropping out of school. Although the countries share a common challenge, the reasons behind the challenge differ based on the countries’ varied backgrounds. In addition, each of the countries measure school dropout rates differently but in essence only considers the number of learners who dropout, whilst not describing the determinants of this dropout. This study employs Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach to identify these determinants by identifying the central freedom affecting the learner, viz., the learner’s real freedom to complete school and attain employment and an improved quality of life. This freedom is tested in terms of a Capability Set of functionings that learners aspire to attain or conduct, viz., being physically well, being financially secure, being mentally well, being taught in infrastructure of a suitable standard, being in a conducive home learning environment, travelling to school in a safe manner, feeling free to express themselves in school and lastly, effectively participating in school activities in a meaningful way. These broad functioning are further defined in terms of themes and sub-themes and thereafter datasets from the above mentioned 3 countries are identified in terms of questions that are appropriate to assess the performance of the country. However, the key additional step of this study is to qualify the selection of data variables per sub-theme in terms of the associated level of data quality. By applying data quality theory, a set of dimensions are identified, which are applicable to a data user working with a publicly released dataset. The selected datasets are checked in terms of relevance internationally and amongst Brazil, India and South Africa in terms of their data collection policy priorities. South Africa’s Statistical Assessment Framework was found highly useful, as the framework shared many of the identified data quality dimensions and assisted in developing the framework practically. In applying the newly constructed Public Data Quality Assessment Framework, the identified datasets were assessed in terms of the data quality dimensions and their level of data quality was rated. South Africa’s surveys produced by Statistics South Africa were rated strongest. Ultimately, relevant data can be sourced from the BRICS, however the variables identified are nuanced and pertain to the priorities of the countries. Greater effort is need to promote collaboration amongst the BRICS to produce comparable data, informed by common methodologies and data quality standards.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : In 2014 het die Staatshoofde van Brasilie, Rusland, Indie en Suid-Afrika(BRICS), in Fortaleza, Brasilie, versoek dat hul statistiek-agentskappe en –kundiges nouer moet saamwerk ter bevordering van die identifisering van gemene data metodologie wat prakties aangewend kan word om sosiale aanwysers, wat 'n stel gemeenskaplike uitdagings meet, te analiseer. Die studie ondersoek die moontlikheid om data wat plaaslik in Brasilie, Indie en Suid-Afrika verwerf is, te gebruik om die spesifieke verskynsel van leerders wat skool te vroeg verlaat (vroeg uitval), te analiseer. Alhoewel bogenoemde 'n gemeenskaplike uitdaging is verskil die redes vir die verskynsel op grond van lande se uiteenlopende agtergronde. Daarbenewens meet elke land die skooluitvalsyfer anders en in wese word slegs die aantal leerders wat uitval in ag geneem, sonder om die redes daarvoor te beskryf. Hierdie studie gebruik Amartya Sen se “Capability Approach”, (Vermoensbenadering) om die redes te identifiseer. Sen se benadering fokus op die identifisering van die sentrale vryheid van die leerder, nl. die ware vryheid van die leerder om sy/haar skoolloopbaan te voltooi en om n indiensnemingsvlak te bereik om sodoende 'n verbeterde lewenskwaliteit te bekom. Hierdie vryheid word gemeet in terme van n’ vermoe-stel van funksionaliteit wat leerders wil bereik, nl. om fisiek gesond te wees, om finansieel veilig te wees, om geestelik gesond te wees, om onderrig te word in 'n infrastruktuur van 'n geskikte standaard, om 'n bevorderlike leeromgewing tuis te hê, om veilig by die skool te kom, om vry te voel om hom/haarself by die skool uit te druk en laastens om effektief en sinvol deel te neem aan skoolaktiwiteite. Hierdie funksionaliteit word verder tematies en subtematies omskryf. Daarna word stelle data van bogenoemde lande geidentifiseer deur middel van vrae wat geskik is om die lande se prestasie te evalueer. Die addisionele sleutelstap van hierdie studie is egter om die seleksie van dataveranderlikes per subtema te kwalifiseer met betrekking tot die verbandsvlak van kwaliteit data. Deur n datakwaliteitsteorie toe te pas, word 'n stel dimensies geidentifiseer, wat bruikbaar is vir 'n data gebruiker wat te doen het met publieke publikasies van data. Die geselekteerde stelle data word geverifieer in terme van die relevansie daarvan internasionaal en is ook geweeg teen Brasilie, Indie en Suid-Afrika se dataversamelings-beleidprioriteite Suid-Afrika se Statistieke Assesseringsraamwerk is baie nuttig, aangesien die raamwerk baie van die geidentifiseerde data se kwaliteitsdimensies kon deel en hulp verleen met betrekking tot die praktiese ontwikkeling van die gebruikte raamwerk. Die nuut-saamgestelde Openbare Datakwaliteitsraamwerk is gebruik om die geidentifiseerde stelle data te evalueer in terme van die datakwaliteitsdimensies en die gradering van die kwaliteitsvlak van die data. Suid-Afrika se opnames, gedoen deur Statistieke Suid-Afrika, is die hoogste gegradeer. Uiteindelik kan relevante inligting van BRICS verkry word. Die veranderlikes is egter genuanseerd en het betrekking op die land se prioriteite. Meer pogings is nodig om samewerking onder die BRICS lande aan te moedig, ter bevordering van die inwin van data deur gemene metodologie en datakwaliteitsstandaarde.Master
Balancing global expertise and local empowerment: South Africa's wind energy growth
No full textSouth Africa's 33 wind farms were all built by international turbine manufacturers. Given the limitations of the local manufacturing industry, local companies will need to continue to rely on foreign expertise to expand the country's wind energy output. The establishment of such partnerships will significantly influence the extent to which future renewable energy projects generate jobs and benefit local communities. In a recent study HSRC researchers led by Krish Chetty looked at two wind farms to analyse how South Africa can best guide a just and inclusive transition to use of local resources.N/
African universities – working towards an inclusive digital future in a post-COVID-19 world
No full textIn response to COVID-19 restrictions, many African universities rapidly implemented online learning. This article identifies a set of critical success factors which should inform a university’s decision to adopt online learning. Online learning potentially amplifies existing inequalities among the student population where matters of digital inclusion are not addressed. By analysing documents from a selection of African universities, we review how they responded to lockdown restrictions. Our analysis applies our framework of critical success factors from the university, the educator and the student’s perspectives. These success factors include an institution’s socio-economic circumstances, cultural readiness and e-readiness, participation in decision-making, and educators and students’ personal and household-level circumstances. Our study highlights important learnings and makes recommendations towards an inclusive digital future of African universities in a post-COVID-19 world
An initial event in insect innate immune response: structural and biological studies of interactions between β-1,3-glucan and the N-terminal domain of β-1,3-glucan recognition protein
No full textIn response to invading microorganisms, insect β-1,3-glucan recognition protein (βGRP), a soluble receptor in the hemolymph, binds to the surfaces of bacteria and fungi and activates serine protease cascades that promote destruction of pathogens by means of melanization or expression of antimicrobial peptides. Here we report on the NMR solution structure of the N-terminal domain of βGRP (N-βGRP) from Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella), which is sufficient to activate the prophenoloxidase (proPO) pathway resulting in melanin formation. NMR and isothermal calorimetric titrations of N-βGRP with laminarihexaose, a glucose hexamer containing β-1,3 links, suggest a weak binding of the ligand. However, addition of laminarin, a glucose polysaccharide (~ 6 kDa) containing β-1,3 and β-1,6 links that activates the proPO pathway, to N-βGRP results in the loss of NMR cross-peaks from the backbone 15N-1H groups of the protein, suggesting the formation of a large complex. Analytical ultra centrifugation (AUC) studies of formation of N-βGRP:laminarin complex show that ligand-binding induces sel-fassociation of the protein:carbohydrate complex into a macro structure, likely containing six protein and three laminarin molecules (~ 102 kDa). The macro complex is quite stable, as it does not undergo dissociation upon dilution to sub-micromolar concentrations. The structural model thus derived from the present studies for N-βGRP:laminarin complex in solution differs from the one in which a single N-βGRP molecule has been proposed to bind to a triple helical form of laminarin on the basis of an X-ray crystallographic structure of N-βGRP:laminarihexaose complex [Kanagawa, M., Satoh, T., Ikeda, A., Adachi, Y., Ohno, N., and Yamaguchi, Y. (2011) J. Biol. Chem. 286, 29158-29165]. AUC studies and phenoloxidase activation measurements carried out with the designed mutants of N-βGRP indicate that electrostatic interactions involving Asp45, Arg54, and Asp68 between the ligand-bound protein molecules contribute in part to the stability of N-βGRP:laminarin macro complex and that a decreased stability is accompanied by a reduced activation of the proPO pathway. Increased β-1,6 branching in laminarin also results in destabilization of the macro complex. These novel findings suggest that ligand-induced self-association of βGRP:β-1,3-glucan complex may form a platform on a microbial surface for recruitment of downstream proteases, as a means of amplification of the initial signal of pathogen recognition for the activation of the proPO pathway
