Information ethics in Africa : curriculum design and implementation

In 2007 a group of academics from different countries established a network known as the Africa Network on Information Ethics (ANIE). Aimed at addressing the under-representation of academics from Africa on information ethics web sites and at international conferences, ANIE committed itself to raising awareness of and stimulating research on information ethics issues by means of conferences and workshops across the African continent. Informing this commitment was the notion that activities on information ethics matters should focus on "changes in the relationship between people and the world due to information communications technology" (Capurro 2008:1163). These networking activities contributed to the creation of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Information Ethics (ACEIE) in May 2012. The dual brief of the ACEIE was to conduct research on information ethics issues in Africa, and to develop an information ethics curriculum for Africa that could be piloted at selected higher education institutions on the continent. This article starts with a description of the background to and rationale for the development of such an information ethics curriculum. Following the description is a summary of Curriculum Framework components and an explanation of the different ways in which institutions could use the Framework in the design and implementation of their own curriculum offerings. The article concludes with an indication of the contribution that the development and implementation of the Information Ethics Framework and associated curriculum offerings could make to research in the field of Information Ethics and the development of Africa as a globally competitive information and knowledge society.http://www.ajol.info/index.php/innovationam2016Information Scienc

Chronological discussion of ANIE events 2007 - 2012

In 2007, a group of international academics in the fields of Information Technology, Philosophy and Politics came together to form an academic network. This network is known as the African Network on Information Ethics (ANIE). ANIE identified a gap in the academic representation of the African Continent on the global stage, specifically pertaining to Information Ethics, and therefore started organising events to stimulate research on Information Ethics in Africa. The aim of this article is to give an overview of the activities that took place from 2007 to 2012 which include international conferences, workshops and publications. The methodology includes the study of conference and workshop presentations by internationally acclaimed academics; analysis of the ANIE website, the outcomes and reports from workshops and conferences organised on the topic of Information Ethics in Africa and the minutes of meetings related to Information Ethics in Africa. The methodology secondly comprises of a chronological layout of activities related to Information Ethics in Africa since the Information Ethics Conference in 2007 up to the formal establishment of the African Centre of Excellence for Information Ethics (ACEIE) in May 2012. The result of this international collaboration has led to a partnership with the South African National Department of Communications, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Culture Organisation (UNESCO) and various universities across Africa. Finally, this collaboration contributed to the establishment of ACEIE.http://www.innovation.ukzn.ac.za/innovationbase.htmam201

Ethical aspects of doctoral-research advising in the emerging African information society

This paper discusses the ethical aspects of doctoral-research advising in the emerging African information society from an African perspective. It addresses the following research questions: What is the status of information ethics in Africa? What theoretical frameworks are available to illuminate the ethical dimension of the emerging African information society? To what extent are ethical aspects of the emerging African information society integrated into doctoral research advising in library and information science in Africa? What are the roles and obligations of the supervisor and supervisee in doctoral research? How is information and communication technology (ICT) being used to enhance doctoral-research advising? The paper is underpinned by various ethical theoretical models, such as the Trust Model, Hayward Power Relations, classical and contemporary ethical traditions, and game theory. It relies upon a literature survey to address the research problems. Results reveal, among other things, the milestones achieved by African scholars in promoting information ethics through curriculum development and research. However, there is a need for the evolving information society to take cognizance of African cultural contexts. The results also reveal that supervisor–supervisee relationships are constrained. The ethical dimension of the emerging African information society should be infused into the doctoral-research process to improve the relationships of supervisor and supervisee. This should be supported by responsible use of ICT, taking into account the Africa cultural context and African values to facilitate the doctoral-advising process. All these should be buttressed by an enabling policy framework at the institutional level to promote harmony and productivity in doctoral research.published or submitted for publicationOpe

Information knowledge and technology for Development in Africa

Information, knowledge, and technology occupy significant space in the information and knowledge society and ongoing debates on development such as sustainable development goals (SDGs) agenda 2030 and the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Disruptive technologies and cyber-physical systems, obscuring the lines between the physical, digital and biological, escalated by the COVID-19 pandemic, present a ‘new normal’ that profoundly affects the nature and magnitude of responses required to sustain and benefit from the new developments. Africa, known for late adoption of new technologies and innovations, is leapfrogging development stages in several enviable ways. This book, Information knowledge and technology for development in Africa’, written by eminent African scholars, comprises chapters that satisfactorily address information access, artificial intelligence, information ethics, e-learning, library and information science education (LISE) in the 4IR, data literacy and e-scholarship, and knowledge management, which are increasingly essential for information access, services, and LISE in Africa. We expect the book to support research, teaching and learning in African higher education and worldwide for comparative scholarship

Work ethics of different generational cohorts in South Africa

Published ArticleAlthough generational differences have been studied in developed countries, not much information is available about generational cohorts and how they differ in terms of work ethics in developing countries. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014 with a sample of 301 respondents from South Africa. The work ethics of three generational cohorts, namely the Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y, were measured. The main finding of this research was that statistically significant differences and similarities were found between the different generational cohorts in terms of certain facets of work ethics. Statistically significant generational differences were indicated for hard work and delay of gratification

Impact of approaches in improving male partner involvement in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV on the uptake of PMTCT services in sub-Saharan Africa: a protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: Several studies have reported approaches used in improving the delivery of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV services through the involvement of male partners, but evidence from a systematic review is limited. We aim at determining the impact of male partner involvement on PMTCT in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods and analysis: This will be a systematic review of published literature. Interventional and observational studies on male involvement in PMTCT carried out in sub-Saharan Africa will be included irrespective of the year and language of publication. OVID Medline, Embase, PschINFO, and Cochrane database of controlled trials will be searched. After manual searching of articles, authors shall be contacted for further information. 2 authors (NFT and CJ) will independently screen potential articles for eligibility using defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tools, Jadad scale and the STROBE checklist will be used for critical appraisal, and the 2 authors will independently assess the quality of articles. Authors will independently extract data from studies using a pre-established data collection form, and any discrepancies will be sorted by a third author (TRK). Outcomes will be analysed using STATA V.12.0. The random effect model will be used to produce forest plots. The heterogeneity χ2 statistics and I2 will be used to assess for heterogeneity. Publication bias will be assessed using funnel plots. This protocol is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 guidelines. Ethics and dissemination: No ethical approval since included studies will be published studies that had already obtained ethical approvals. The findings will guide HIV programmes on the best approaches towards involving male partners in PMTCT with a view to improving PMTCT services in sub-Saharan Africa

Information knowledge and technology for Development in Africa

Information, knowledge, and technology occupy significant space in the information and knowledge society and ongoing debates on development such as sustainable development goals (SDGs) agenda 2030 and the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Disruptive technologies and cyber-physical systems, obscuring the lines between the physical, digital and biological, escalated by the COVID-19 pandemic, present a ‘new normal’ that profoundly affects the nature and magnitude of responses required to sustain and benefit from the new developments. Africa, known for late adoption of new technologies and innovations, is leapfrogging development stages in several enviable ways. This book, Information knowledge and technology for development in Africa’, written by eminent African scholars, comprises chapters that satisfactorily address information access, artificial intelligence, information ethics, e-learning, library and information science education (LISE) in the 4IR, data literacy and e-scholarship, and knowledge management, which are increasingly essential for information access, services, and LISE in Africa. We expect the book to support research, teaching and learning in African higher education and worldwide for comparative scholarship

Ethical issues of online social networks in Africa

The African debate about information technology in general, and OSNs in particular, is a debate on African identities arising out of processes of mutual respect or disrespect, and also from the social capabilities, natural environments, histories and cultures of African peoples. It concerns questions such as: What are the cultural and historical conditions underlying this debate in Africa? What are the bad and good practices of OSNs in Africa to date? How do mass media in conjunction with OSNs and other interactive digital media influence social and political movements in Africa? What is the impact of OSNs in other countries and cultures outside Africa on African societies? And, last but not least, what are the ethical values at stake when African people develop and use OSNs? The paper addresses some of these questions. In the first part, a brief account of OSNs in Africa is presented. The second part deals with OSNs from a phenomenological and ethical perspective. In the outlook, the role of the Africa Network for Information Ethics (ANIE) and of the newly created Africa Center of Excellence for Information Ethics (ACEIE) at the University of Pretoria, is explained. Both are important platforms for building a teaching research community on information ethical issues in Africa.http://www.ajol.info/index.php/innovationhb201

Information ethics education in Library and Information Science departments and schools in South Africa

This paper investigates the nature and level of information ethics education in library and information science (LIS) departments in South Africa. The study entailed both qualitative and quantitative methodologies in that a survey and content analysis were conducted. The study involved all 12 LIS departments in South Africa. Within these departments, the heads of department, lecturers teaching the module, and the course outlines/study guides for information ethics modules formed the target population. Data was collected via questionnaires that were emailed to the heads of the various LIS departments, who were also requested to forward a separate questionnaire to the lecturers teaching an information ethics module. Responses were received from 7 of the 12 LIS departments to which questionnaires were sent. The study revealed that in most LIS departments, information ethics is incorporated into the content of other modules and is not taught as a stand-alone course. In the LIS departments that offer a stand-alone information ethics module, the module is offered for the fi rst time in second year, the rationale being that at this level students are suffi ciently mature to appreciate information ethics. With the exception of one lecturer, who had a background in both LIS and Philosophy, all the lecturers had backgrounds in LIS only. In light of the ethical dilemmas facing information professionals, it is recommended that information ethics be made a significant component of LIS education and training, in which case it would be offered as a full stand-alone module.Information Scienc

Just two Sides of the Same Coin? Ethical Issues and Discourses on COVID-19 and Ebola: A Comparative Literature Analysis

Infectious diseases pose a continuing threat to human life. In the case of pandemics, they can also grow into massive challenges for society as a whole - not only from a medical but also from an ethical perspective. This article takes the current COVID-19 pandemic as the occasion for an empirical medico-ethical analysis. It explores the ethical dimensions and discourses on COVID-19 and the Ebola epidemics (West Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo). Additional attention is paid to the question whether and to what extent the ethical issues raised differ and how the possible disparities can be explained. Using a methodological two-step approach (systematic literature review; qualitative content analysis), we were able to identify nine categories that map the ethical dimensions of recent outbreaks of these two diseases: (1) Prioritization of health, (2) Equitable access to resources, (3) Adequate information, (4) Health worker vulnerability, (5) Stigma and discrimination, (6) Research ethics, (7) Measures restricting freedom, (8) Global health justice, (9) Environmental ethics