Talent management : attracting and retaining academic staff at selected public higher education institutions

The challenge being experienced by higher education to attract and retain talented academics, particularly black staff, motivated this particular study. The challenge has been experienced by the higher education sector since the democratic dispensation in South Africa in 1994 with minimal published research having been undertaken in this specific field. In addition, it did not appear that there was a tangible solution or strategy by education leaders to respond to the crisis facing higher education. Meanwhile, seasoned academics, particularly white staff, continue to retire taking with them invaluable intellectual capital at a loss to academe. The challenges cited by academics for leaving academe do not augur well for the academic profession as a career of choice particularly for young black potential academics. The present study adopted a mixed methods approach using data collection instruments associated with both the quantitative and qualitative research paradigms. Talent management typically consists of four pillars of intervention viz. attraction, retention, development and deployment. The first part of the doctoral thesis focussed on the analysis of literature and empirical documents found in three of the four talent management pillars, namely attraction, retention and development. Deployment is not practical in the academic sector. The second part of the doctoral thesis focussed on a sample of academics in particular colleges or faculties at three South African universities. In the process following the implementation of the survey and interviews, ideas and themes were identified in the data. The research study presented a recommendation in response to the challenge to attract and retain academics, particularly black staff, with a particular emphasis on the development of black academics at lower levels. This is within the broader context of the academic employer value proposition. The study recommends that to attract and retain talented academics, particularly black staff, education leaders should focus on investing resources into the management of talent inherent in black academics at lower levels.Public AdministrationD. P. A

Cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects of Moringa Oleifera Lam.on hela cells.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Moringa oleifera Lam., known to most as the ‘drumstick tree’, is a non-fastidious botanical that is native to India, and is cultivated on a global scale as a sustainable crop, for sustenance, medicinal and beauty applications, amongst others. The antitumour, antibacterial and antifungal effects of M. oleifera are well-documented, however, its specific effects on human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced malignancy have not been established. High-risk HPV subtypes 16 and 18 are implicated in the carcinogenesis of more than 90% of cervical cancers. Despite well-established national cervical screening programmes, cervical cancer still remains the most common cancer affecting females in South Africa. This may partly be attributed to the high incidence of HIV infection in South Africa. Some of the hallmarks of cancer are, the up-regulation of telomerase, over-expression of E2F1 transcription factor, and over-expression of cyclin E and cyclin B1. The aim of this current study was to establish whether 24-hour treatment with hexane and ethanol leaf extracts of M. oleifera modulate telomerase, E2F1, cyclin E, and cyclin B1. The apoptotic pathway and phase of cell cycle arrest were also investigated. The HeLa cell line, an aggressive cervical cancer cell line in which high-risk HPV-18 viral strands have been identified, was used in this study A novel effect of M. oleifera leaf extract was evident in the inactivation of telomerase. The inactivation of telomerase implies that p53 function was restored by the repression of E6 gene expression. Another novel outcome of the study is that M. oleifera down-regulates E2F1, accounting for the dose-dependent antiproliferative effects seen. The inactivation of telomerase was demonstrated by caspase-3 and caspase-7 activation, which confirmed intrinsic apoptosis. The down-regulation of E2F1 possibly occurs through the repression of the E6 oncoprotein and the activation of p53. The quantitative assessment of cyclin E and cyclin B1, showed an overall down-regulation, and G2-M cell cycle arrest. Taken together, this study provides convincing evidence that M. oleifera hexane and ethanol leaf fractions have potential antitumour effects, by targeting multiple abnormally elevated markers for down-regulation. Other M. oleifera fractions investigated in a parallel study, and were excluded due to p values being greater than 0.05 and inconclusive findings, in dichloromethane and aqueous fractions