Harnessing institutional research for strategic integration: a network analysis of digital technology adoption in human-centric teaching and learning models

This study examines the integration of Institutional Research (IR) and digital technology adoption in higher education, with a focus on fostering human-centric teaching and learning models. The research adopts an epistemological stance, emphasizing collaboration between researchers and decision-makers, reflection on knowledge production, and the promotion of equitable and evidence-based decision-making in higher education institutions (HEIs). To map collaborative networks, network visualization software, such as Networkx, was used, leveraging centrality metrics like degree, betweenness, and closeness centrality to identify key contributors and partnerships. Trend and cluster analysis were conducted using keyword co-occurrence techniques and clustering algorithms to detect emerging themes and group related topics. Emerging thematic trends underscored the growing importance of ethical AI, inclusivity, and hybrid models that combine traditional pedagogy with advanced technologies. The study also revealed gaps in interdisciplinary knowledge diffusion, emphasizing the need for stronger connections between technical fields and behavioral sciences. Proposed pathways include strengthening mentorship from central hubs to peripheral nodes → fostering diverse collaborations, aligning AI tools → human-centric frameworks, and integrating technical disciplines ↔ behavioral sciences to ensure holistic innovation. These insights highlight the transformative potential of IR and AI-driven technologies to advance governance, collaboration, and equity in higher education

A scoping review of neurodiverse women's representation in feminist research in Sub-Saharan Africa

This scoping review investigates representation of neurodiverse women in feminist research across Sub-Saharan Africa revealing a significant gap in the comprehension of the interplay between gender, neurodiversity, and cultural context. This study is underpinned by the Feminist Disability theory and Ubuntu philosophy. The analysis encompassed publications from two international and two regional databases: Scopus, EBSCO, the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) Online Repository (AfriRep), and the African Disability Rights yearbook. Peer reviewed journals across multiple disciplines from the Taylor and Francis Group’s online platform were also analyzed. Our systematic search indicates a lack of African feminist research on women with Neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs), despite an expanding body of literature concerning women with sensory and physical disabilities. The review pinpointed several factors contributing to this dearth in NDCs research in African contexts: limited research on gender-specific challenges related to NDCs diagnosis and intervention, over reliance on foreign-developed knowledge body and diagnostic tools for NDCs, African cultural and societal perspectives on NDCs and limited local data on generated on NDCs. These findings highlight the pressing need for culturally relevant research methodologies that incorporate Ubuntu epistemologies for conceptualizing the nature of NDCs and support of neurodiverse individuals. Funding is essential to develop local research capacity and creation of new local relevant knowledge on NDC

The curse of the liberation movement after 30 years in power: observations from Southern Africa

The trajectory of liberation movements in Southern Africa provides insights into post-colonial governance and democratic transitions in the Global South. While much research has focused on the initial successes of these movements, less attention has been paid to their long-term effectiveness and the complex interplay between local and international forces shaping their governance. This study aims to fill this gap by examining why liberation movements often lose power after three decades, focusing on the interplay between the local agency and global systemic constraints. The research employs a comparative case study approach, analysing five key liberation movements in Southern Africa: the Malawi Congress Party, Zambia's United National Independence Party, Tanzania's Chama Cha Mapinduzi, Zimbabwe's Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, and South Africa's African National Congress. Through historical analysis and examination of governance patterns, the study identifies common trajectories, challenges, and strategies these movements employ. The findings reveal that African democratic transitions often mask a repositioning of the global order, with the Global South, admitted into the international system at subordinate levels. These insights have significant implications for understanding post-colonial state-building, nation-making and the limitations of democratic transitions in the Global South. African politics, international relations, and democratisation scholars will find this research valuable for its nuanced approach to the interplay between local and global forces. By challenging simplistic narratives linear of democratic transition, this study contributes to a more complex understanding of post-colonial governance relevant to academic discourse and policy formulation in international developmen

Assessment of welfare services provision and management of student unrest in universities

Welfare services provision and management of student unrest are crucial issues in the governance of higher institutions. This study assessed the provision of welfare services with a focus on understanding their adequacy and impact on student unrest. The objectives were to identify the available welfare services provided, evaluate the strategies, employed in managing student unrest, and determine the influence of welfare service provision on the management of student unrest. The study was hinged on the theory frustration-aggression, which has been widely applied to understand various social behaviors, including student unrest in educational settings. The research adopted a descriptive survey design, utilizing a multi-stage cluster sampling method to ensure a representative sample of students from various faculties at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Nigeria. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicated that while certain welfare services, such as health care, are perceived as adequate by most students, there are significant concerns regarding the adequacy of mental health support, financial aid, housing, career services, and other student support systems. The study concluded that there are critical areas in need of enhancement to better meet student needs and to manage student unrest more effectively

Navigating "sticky floors": barriers faced by female academics in a rural-based university

The underrepresentation of women in academic settings continues to be a worldwide issue, notably in rural Universities where cultural and structural obstacles remain. This study explores the notion of "sticky floors" systemic barriers that impede female academics from progressing in their careers. Despite the existence of policies advocating for gender equity, women in rural Universities still encounter obstacles like institutional policies and promotion criteria. These obstacles hinder career advancement perpetuating gender inequalities in academic leadership positions. Intersectionality theory is used as the framework of the study. The study employed qualitative research methods to explore factors that contribute to the under-representation of women in senior academic positions in higher education institutions in South Africa. To select twenty-five female academics who met the study's requirements, Amalgamation of convenience and purposive sampling methods was employed. Self-administered semi-structured interviews were used to gather data to elicit and shed light on women's perspectives on matters of their professional advancement. The paper employed thematic analysis for data analysis. The findings demonstrate, that even though much has been done to support female academics at HEIs, Higher education institutions remain predominantly male-dominated across various employment sectors, particularly in academic settings where female professionals encounter barriers to advancement. Women continue to experience numerous obstacles when attempting to climb the educational hierarchy, leading to their limited presence in senior academic positions and leadership roles. The study indicates that a combination of individual, societal, and institutional obstacles impedes women's professional development and upward mobility in academic institutions. These findings suggest that higher education institutions must collaborate extensively with diverse social organizations to combat gender disparities, both within academic environments and related professional domains

The emerging trends on human trafficking in South Africa

Human trafficking is a wounding problem and a complicated threat that deprives people of their civil liberties and freedom. In recent years, the nation of South Africa has had to contend with rising incidents of human trafficking, both as a source country and a destination country. This study sought to explore the scourge of human trafficking in South Africa, with a focus on Soweto - one of the most densely populated locations in South Africa. The study was guided by two objectives namely, to identify the forms of human trafficking, and to ascertain the contributory factors to human trafficking. The study adopted a quantitative research design and data were collected using a mainly closed-ended questionnaire. A sample of 80 respondents was invited to participate in the study using purposive, stratified and snowball sampling techniques. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to reveal descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that trafficking of people for organ harvesting was considered as the most prevalent form of human trafficking, followed by trafficking of women and young girls for prostitution, and trafficking of people for use as drug couriers. Unemployment, porous borders and inadequate legislation emerged as the main contributory factors to human trafficking in Soweto. In order to deal with human trafficking, the study recommends a multi-pronged approach that incorporates the government, the legislature, law enforcement and citizens to deal with human trafficking. Employment creation, construction of safe houses for victims, counselling services for victims and addressing illegal immigration are the recommended specific measures to address human traffickin

Post COVID-19 patterns of social protection spending and poverty alleviation in South Africa

It is with no doubt that social protection has been a key weapon for development in most low-income countries. As part of its commitment, South Africa has implemented and continued with additional measures, such as Social Relief Distress (SRD), since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the major concerns hovers around the long-term sustainability of fiscal allocations to this obligation. This paper, therefore, analyses patterns of social protection spending using STAR (Situation, task, action, results) method on year on year (YoY) data (2019/202 and 2020/21). Firstly, the paper shows that the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to already existing extreme poverty levels and people’s vulnerability. The study exposes a need to assess the long run sustainability of the fiscal commitment to poverty reduction and the protection of the vulnerable. Secondly, it demonstrates that post -COVID -19 fiscal commitments to poverty reduction. The study compares and analyses year-on year data of fiscal allocation to social protection, the number of beneficiaries and poverty rates and further forecast prospects of sustainability. Social protection improved during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, improving the number of beneficiaries. However, this was realised through borrowing and costly fiscal trade-offs. This paper provides alternative measures that can be implemented to create a fiscal space and finance the social protection ga

Revisiting Maslow’s hierarchy: the recognition and acknowledgment of greatness in others

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a broadly accepted framework in psychology that offers valuable insights into human motivation. The initial five-tier model has been applied across numerous spheres of influence. Later revisions incorporated self-transcendence and emphasised the importance of contributing beyond individual fulfilment. This study criticises and expands on Maslow’s framework by suggesting an additional dimension, namely the recognition and acknowledgment of greatness in others. This is followed by a conceptual exploration of two distinct perspectives within this anticipated dimension, while drawing from the self-determination theory and social motivation research. The first perspective interprets recognition as a fundamental segment of self-transcendence, which aligns with Maslow’s highest level of need. It suggests that recognising others’ greatness mirrors the individual’s shift from personal fulfilment to a focus on the collective good. The second perspective suggests that recognition constitutes a distinct motivational need and is situated between esteem and self-actualisation. There is therefore a perceived link between self-accomplishments and the broader altruistic motives. This dual perspective stresses the psychological and social gains of recognising others, and similarly links it to intrinsic motivation, interpersonal relationships as well as workplace engagement. By including this dimension, the framework evolves to deliberate contemporary perceptions of human fulfilment and underscoring the significance of social validation and community well-being. This proposed addition enriches both individual and collective experiences and positions the concept of recognition as a fundamental psychological and social need in modern civilisatio

Contexts, triggers and socio-economic effects of security threats in the Lesotho taxi industry

Security threats, experienced by taxi drivers in Lesotho, do not just occur randomly, but they are triggered by certain factors, such as the environment. These security threats affect taxi drivers in various ways, including financially and physically. This study used the perspectives of the taxi drivers to assess the socio-economic effects of security threats in Lesotho’s taxi industry. The study is anchored on Lifestyle Theory, which suggests that individual lifestyles can influence their risk of victimization. Using a qualitative approach, facilitated by purposive sampling and snowball sampling techniques, the study successfully captured the lived experiences of taxi drivers in Lesotho, unveiling the various dimensions of security threats the drivers encounter in the country. The study revealed from a seasonal dimension that security threats, besides political riots and political campaigns, are encountered mostly in winter. Equally, they are encountered at taxi ranks and in isolated areas in terms of location and hotspots. The findings reflect that these threats affect taxi drivers physically, mentally, and financially. They further show that taxi drivers use positive coping mechanisms, such as seeking support, and negative coping mechanisms, including substance abuse and route avoidance, to limit the psycho-physical effects of these threats. In the light of the above observations, the study suggests that the responsible government agencies should be innovative in fighting security threats, experienced by long-distance and short-distance taxi drivers

Childhood trauma, peer pressure, parenting styles and gender on adolescent substance abuse in Ibadan: a structural equation modelling approach

The effective intervention strategies depend on the correlations and structural pathways linking these factors to adolescent substance abuse. The correlations and structural pathways linking childhood trauma, peer pressure, parenting styles, and gender to substance abuse among adolescents form the basis of this study. The study employed a survey research technique. A total of 242 secondary school students in Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria were chosen through a multistage sampling technique. The questionnaire was the instrument, adopted for data collection, while the collected data were analysed using a correlational design and the Structural Equation Modelling approach. The study adheres to ethical consideration. Among the variables of interest, childhood trauma (r = .593, p < .01) and peer pressure (r = .548, p < .01) showed positive correlations with substance abuse, whereas parenting styles had a negative correlation (r = -.472, p < .01). Accordingly, the SEM results indicated that childhood trauma significantly contributed to peer pressure at β = 0.52, p < .001, and substance abuse at β = 0.42, p <.001, partially through the mediation of peer pressure. The model indices also proved good adequacy: χ²/df = 2.34, CFI = 0.96, and RMSEA = 0.048. Childhood trauma and peer pressure increases the likelihood of substance abuse, however, supportive parenting reduces the risks. Gender differences in current adolescent substance use call for different interventions