Perceptions of Chemical Engineering Students on Decolonizing the Curriculum by Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge Practices

The #FeesMustFall movement, which rocked institutions of higher learning in South Africa in 2015/2016, inspired robust engagement around the decolonization of knowledge. Students argued that the epistemological context of higher education in South Africa does not reflect the African context. Activists argued that if the curricula did not speak to local issues, the challenges facing higher education would remain. Incorporating indigenous knowledge practices into mainstream education could signify a shift away from Western dominance in the local episteme. Engineering is not immune to decolonization. This paper attempts to extract the views and observations of 38 chemical engineering students, from second year until PhD level, at the University of Johannesburg on decolonizing the curriculum by incorporating indigenous knowledge practices. The data was generated through an open-ended questionnaire. The questionnaire required that participants briefly describe indigenous practices with the potential for elucidating chemical engineering principles. Participants identified umfuso, which is the process of drying vegetables in the sun, sieving with leselo, which is made up of reeds and is used to separate light materials from heavy ones, drinking cow urine as a remedy to cure various diseases, making traditional mageu, brewing traditional beer (umqombothi) and milling and grinding maize meal, as practices which they believe had potential to reshape the curriculum. The findings of the study show that students concurred with the call for decolonization and transformation of the chemical engineering curriculum, but that there was a lack of consensus on whether incorporating indigenous knowledge practices could help achieve it, as the system of acquiring education itself needs decolonization

School bullying of learners at Mshini High School in Kwazulu-Natal -South Africa

A thesis submitted to the Faculty Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters of Arts in Community Work in the Department of Social Work at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2014The previous researchers suggested that school bullying is high in South Africa, especially in high schools. The researcher is motivated by seeing a large number of schools in South Africa who experience school bullying in different forms. The researcher of the study reviewed previous dissertations and thesis which indicated that schools with high levels of reported incidents of bullying have lower passing rates when compared with schools with less reported cases of bullying. This study is built on the groundwork of reviewing the findings of previous researchers about school bullying; so it is due to those regards that made the researcher decided to conduct the study of this nature. The research was designed to investigate school bullying of learners at Mshini High School in KwaZulu-Natal: South Africa. The sample was taken from grade 10 learners at Mshini High School and a simple random sample of 30 participants was used. A questionnaire with 40 closed-ended questions was used as a tool for gathering information from participants. The participants were both males and females. A quantitative programme of data analysis was used in the study. Data was analysed and presented through the use of descriptive statistics which involves tabulations and graphs; thus to find the results of the study. The name of the school that the researcher used was a pseudo name. The researcher used the pseudo name “Mshini High School” to maintain confidentiality. The researcher discovered the answers for the key questions of the study, and the objectives of the study had been achieved since the researcher discovered what was being investigated. According to the findings of the study school bullying is defined as a psychological attack that cause distress and fear, demanding the lunch box from other learners, an intimidation intended to cause harm, a repeated aggressive behaviour and a physical attack on the school ground that includes an imbalance of power. The findings suggest that school bullying did exist at Mshini High School because of the evidence and facts that the majority of participants stated that they did know of schoolmates who had been bullied. The researcher ascertained that school bullying had been reported at Mshini High School since a high percentage of participants confirmed that they knew someone in their school who had reported the incident of being bullied. The findings indicates that school bullying at Mshini High School had been reported to different people by learners and the high rate of participants had reported school bullying to their friends. Lastly, the researcher discovered that the most common type of bullying that occurred at Mshini High School was pushing

Exploring the relationships between antecedents of online purchasing behaviour

Abstract: Technological advances have acted as a catalyst, increasing the number of consumers shopping online. This is caused primarily by the increased adoption and accessibility of the internet. This study examined consumer’s perceptions of shopping online. A convenience sampling approach was adopted, and descriptive statistics were outlined. The relationships between the various perceptions were examined by conducting a correlation analysis. Trust plays a critical role in the perceived benefit sought by consumers who seek this online method of shopping. Online trust allows consumers to mitigate vulnerabilities concerning security and privacy issues when shopping online (Beldad, de Jong, and Steehouder, 2010). Trust showed a positive and significant relationship with all the other variables, which is makes it a significant role player in perceptions of online shopping. Recommendations for future research are outlined as well as implications for literature and managerial support

Disciplinary approaches for learners at schools in Umkhanyakude district

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Education in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education (Educational Psychology) in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Needs Education at the University Of Zululand, South Africa, 2015What educators do or can do to handle certain occurring misbehaviour in the classroom was the main subject of this study. The aim of this study was to explore or investigate the disciplinary measures the ‘Intermediate, Senior and Further Education and Training Phase’ educators in UMkhanyakude district were making use of to handle undesirable behaviour with the purpose of discovering alternative disciplinary measures that would be consistent, possible to implement and effective in dealing with different learners within the classrooms without inflicting any physical, emotional and psychological pain. A questionnaire which had closed-ended and open-ended questions was developed and distributed among 54 educators (52 educators responded) who were located around Mtubatuba Town, KwaMsane Township and UMpukunyoni Area. With the same questionnaire, out of 9 members of the School Management Team located in selected places, 6 were interviewed. Data was quantitatively and qualitatively analysed. Quantitative data was coded and entered into SPSS. This study examined the research findings on the application and the frequency of certain methods of handling misbehaviour; actions taken when a certain misbehaviour occurs and the effectiveness of those actions. Significant themes that emerged from actions taken by participants when learners misbehaves and participants’ recommendations on what they consider preferable were identified for qualitative analysis. The study findings revealed that participants did make use of certain methods with the intention of either inflicting physical, emotional or psychological pain so that the misbehaviour can be stopped. The findings revealed that the methods that were implemented caused some discomfort, most of them did not permanently stopped misbehaviour. The study recommends that parental involvement and code of conduct be made use of to handle misbehaviour. The participants did not reveal any discomfort brought by the implementation of parental involvement and code of conduct

Metal removal from solution using readily available inorganic reactive materials

Abstract: This research evaluated using inorganic adsorbents for removal of metals from solution. Batch experiments were carried out to determine the effects of adsorbent dosage, initial metal concentration and agitation time on metal removal. The results showed increasing metal ion removal with increasing adsorbent dosage, metal concentration and agitation time. Removal efficiencies of Al3+ and Mn2+ were reported at above 99% and 98%. Kinetic studies showed that the three adsorbents data on both Al3+ and Mn2+ removal were pertaining to pseudo- first- order and second-order kinetics and had a good fit to Elovich indicating that the adsorption rate-limiting step could be inferred as chemical sorption

A Rhetorical Analysis of Theodore Hesburgh\u27s Fund-Raising Speeches for the University of Notre Dame

Problem Statement. Literature reveals that college or university presidents play a key role in raising funds for their institutions. These roles are well documented, and yet many presidents face challenges in raising adequate funds for their institutions. Success stories of some university presidents are recorded, but no research has studied their rhetoric in raising funds in an attempt to uncover their formula for success. One such president is Theodore Hesburgh of the University of Notre Dame. Methodology. This study assumes a rhetorical design, specifically the Burkean dramatistic approach to analyze Theodore Hesburgh\u27s fund-raising speeches to the alumni of the University of Notre Dame. Data were Hesburgh’s fund-raising speeches that he gave to the alumni. Conclusion. Hesburgh’s formula for success in raising funds for the University of Notre Dame has five key components: 1. He connects and establishes identification with the alumni not because the University is their alma mater, but because they are to serve the world on behalf of the University. 2. He focuses outward on universals not inward on institutional needs. As the alumni disseminate established principles and values learned at the University of Notre Dame, they are actually engaging in responding to the needs of the University. 3. His appeal is for the alumni to work hard for the University and makes giving money an easy way to accomplish the work. 4. He focuses on alumni, not current students. Alumni do not give to the University to help poor students have the same experience the alumni had, but he reminds them of their experiences while at the University and how those experiences have gotten them to where they are in life. 5. He focuses on what the University has, not on what it does not have--these are the principles and values the University imparts to students and they are those to which the University can hold students accountable

Customer satisfaction levels, store loyalty and perceived important store attributes among sportswear apparel shoppers in Soweto

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine levels of shopper satisfaction with sportswear stores in a particular township, as well as their loyalty to these stores, and the attributes they consider when selecting which stores to shop at. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 489 shoppers who patronise sportswear stores at the malls located in the Soweto township in Gauteng, South Africa. The findings show moderate levels of shopper satisfaction with stores. The results also show that loyalty towards a particular store is strongly related to customer satisfaction levels. The conduct of store staff, brand availability, price promotion and store atmosphere were all found to be factors that shoppers consider when selecting sportswear shops. No significant differences were found in levels of satisfaction, store loyalty and the importance associated with store attributes by customers of different gender, age and income group. The findings in the study are of practical significance in that they can assist mall and store managers to develop effective retail marketing strategies targeted at consumers in urbanised townships

The role of selected E-Retailer attributes and behaviours in cultivating online shoppers' repurchase intention

Abstract : This study evaluated the impact of selected online retailer attributes and behaviours on online shoppers’ repurchase intention. A model testing affordable delivery cost, transactional protection and order fulfilment was used to determine the impact of these attributes on shoppers’ repurchase intention. Data was collected from 580 online shoppers who had made online purchases within the three months preceding the survey. The model was tested using the structural equation modeling technique. The findings suggest that online retailers who offer affordable delivery, transaction protection and prompt order fulfilment have a significant direct effect on shoppers’ repurchase intention. The managerial implications of the findings are presented

Synthesis and performance evaluation of peS/chitosan membranes coated with polyamide for acid mine drainage treatment

Abstract

Perceptions of pregnant women regarding their attendance of antenatal care at selected clinics in the Umzinyathi District Municipality Kwazulu-Natal

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Nursing in the Department of Nursing Science at the University Of Zululand, 2022.Introduction and Background Attendance of Antenatal Care (ANC) remains prioritised by health care workers and pregnant women in general, as it serves to maintain a healthy pregnancy and positive pregnancy outcomes. Aim of the study The aim of the study was to explore perceptions of pregnant women regarding their attendance of antenatal care in the UMzinyathi district municipality how they perceive it and discover the driving/ influencing factors behind ANC attendance. Methodology and Design A qualitative approach was used. The study used the In-depth interview method to interview pregnant women attending ANC at 3 clinics in UMzinyathi district municipality. Data collection was conducted through in-depth interviews. Purposive sampling was used to conduct in-depth interviews with 16 pregnant women attending ANC at the clinics. Data Analysis Themes emerged revealed certain factors that influenced attendance pregnant women to attend ANC. These themes addressed various notion of perceptions pregnant women which include the following: The first theme was (i) protection of the baby and the mother; (ii) knowledge benefits regarding fetus and pregnancy related to pregnant women attending to gain knowledge about their state of pregnancy. (iii) Reasons for attending ANC; (iv) Delays in ANC attendance. Recommendations Pregnant women should be educated in their communities about the importance of early booking of ANC. Benefits of antenatal care and educating pregnant women on the purpose of ANC to improve attendance of ANC should be emphasised. Midwives should provide health education on importance of attending ANC according to BANC model. Other recommendation include use Mobile clinics for women who do not have the time to go to the clinics as well use of outreach team campaigns to raise awareness about importance of early booking and attendance according to BANC model. Conclusions The study findings revealed that although pregnant women who attended ANC, did it for the wrong reasons, and they lacked the knowledge on the benefits of ANC. Health care workers also play their part in negatively influencing ANC attendance through malpractice. A number of factors and determinants of ANC attendance showed that there are still a lot of strategies that need to be introduced to encourage pregnant women to attend ANC. Pregnant women already attending ANC need further education to provide them with knowledge on the purposes of ANC services. Further research is required to develop health literacy