Bridging the transactional gap in Open Distance Learning (ODL): The case of the University of South Africa (Unisa)

The aim of this paper is to map and audit the availability and use of e-learning resources by Communication Science students at the University of South Africa (UNISA), in order to ensure that they provide a seamless learning experience to bridge the transactional distance in its Open Distance Learning (ODL) context. The Communication Science students targeted were COMSA executives and Unisa Radio employees. To serve the goal of the paper the following specific objectives were formulated: to establish types of e-learning resources available at Unisa, and to identify the benefits of elearning at Unisa. This study is informed by Michael Moore’s Transactional Distance theory. This theory, which focuses on dialogue, transactional distance and telecommunication systems, has been widely applied in many similar studies. A survey research design was used whereby questionnaires were administered to all COMSA executives and 50% of Unisa Radio student employees who were chosen using simple random sampling. The data gathered was analysed using thematic categorisation and tabulation and the findings were presented descriptively. The findings indicate that Unisa provides a variety of e-learning resources for its students. In addition, computers and the internet are most useful to students’ studies. It should be mentioned that e-learning facilitates and opens avenues for effective teaching. This study focused only on the availability and use of e-learning by Communication Science students at Unisa. Therefore, it will be necessary for a broader study to be undertaken which will focus on academic and ICT staff as well as students chosen across the Unisa community. Keywords: Open Distance Learning; E-learning; Online education; ICTs in teaching and learning, University of South Afric

An evaluation of insulin therapy initiation among patients with type 2 diabetes attending a public health facility in South Africa

Background: Clinically effective interventions that could reduce diabetic patients’ risk of long-term complications are needed to contain the rising cost of diabetes care associated with the increasing prevalence of this condition. Good glycaemic control needs to be rapidly attained and maintained by the appropriate initiation and adjustment of glucoselowering therapy. In patients with insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes who are not at goal glycaemia, this translates to the initiation and intensification of insulin therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the appropriateness of the initiation of insulin therapy in patients with poorly controlled insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes.Method: This descriptive retrospective study evaluated treatment regimens, dose adjustments and glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) measurements extracted from records of patients with type 2 diabetes suitable for inclusion. The observation period spanned the 24 months retrospective to study start. Data collected were transcribed into a spreadsheet suitable for statistical analysis.Results: Of the overall cohort of patients with insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes (n = 131), only 45.8% (n = 60) were commenced on insulin during the observation period, of whom 51.7% had subsequent adjustment of insulin dosage. Mean HbA1c at insulin initiation was 10.29% (± 2.42), and 10.63% (± 1.93) after adjustment of insulin dose (p-value > 0.05). Of those who remained on oral glucose-lowering therapy (n = 71), 57.7% had no change in medication dosage throughout the study period. Overall, 81.35% remained ≥ 1% above goal HbA1c by the end of the study period.Conclusion: This study found a discrepancy in the appropriate use and adjustment of insulin therapy according to metabolic status

Sociodemographic and clinical profiles of suicidal patients requiring admission to hospitals south of Durban

Background: Suicidal behaviour has become a major public health concern worldwide. Non-fatal suicidal attempts outnumber fatal episodes by wide-ranging figures across, and within, many countries. Approximately 6 500 suicides and 130 000 suicide attempts occur annually in South Africa, with at least one suicide taking place every 40 seconds, compared to one suicide attempt every three seconds. It is more common for all forms of suicidal behaviour to occur in younger persons. This study aimed to analyse the characteristics of suicide attempters who were admitted to two community-based state hospitals in the south of Durban.Method: Adult patients presenting at two university-affiliated state  hospitals, following a suicide attempt during a two-year period, were invited to participate in the study. A World Health Organization standardised questionnaire was used to collect basic data relating to the suicide attempt. All participants provided informed consent. Data were analysed using SPSS® version 19.Results: The majority of the 688 participants were women who were young, single, unemployed, low-income earners, of Indian ethnicity, belonged to the Christian faith, and had a primary school education. Four hundred and thirty-eight participants (63.7%) suffered from varying levels of  depression. The majority of suicide attempts (97.2%) had taken placewithin the home environment of the attempters. Self-poisoning emerged as the dominant method that was used by 92.2% of all attempters.Conclusion: Disturbing levels of non-fatal suicidal behaviour were found in all the population groups. A number of modifiable factors were identified. These have implications for healthcare policy planners and prevention strategies

INVESTIGATING CONSUMER RESPONSIVENESS TO MOBILE MARKETING IN JOHANNESBURG

Traditional communication mix elements have become pricey. Therefore there is a growing need for marketers to find cheaper alternatives to communicate with their target audience. Mobile phone marketing will lower the costs of advertising and at the same time improve relationships between marketers and consumers as it targets the personal element of marketing communication. According to research, 29 million people use mobile phones in South Africa. The research objectives seek to determine the different uses of mobile technology by consumers, how mobile phone users interact with mobile marketing techniques, and to make recommendations on the optimal use of mobile marketing. This quantitative study established that, although it might not be the first choice of receiving marketing communications, the majority of the people would still like to receive adverts via their mobile, proving that mobile marketing has a place in marketing. The findings revealed that 34% of South African mobile phone users have smartphones, this creates a new market for mobile internet, social media, and mobile email adverts. It is important that marketers should also use other methods of marketing communication mix as 28 million people use radio and 26 million people use televisions in South Africa, proving that these gadgets are still important in the consumers’ lives and in information sharing. Mobile marketing cannot replace the conventional marketing communication methods completely but can complement the efforts and create an interactive platform for marketers and their consumers

Diagnostic challenges with acellular bacterial meningitis

An immunocompetent adult presenting with acellular pneumococcal meningitis is a rare occurrence and may pose a diagnostic challenge

Isolation of hydrolase producing bacteria from Sua pan solar salterns and the production of endo-1, 4-bxylanase from a newly isolated haloalkaliphilic Nesterenkonia sp.

Eighty seven bacterial isolates were obtained from evaporator ponds using culture enrichment technique and screened for xylanase, mannanase and cellulase activity. Based on biochemical and phenotypic characteristics, the isolates were divided into 18 groups. Thirteen groups were Bacillusspecies, four were Halomonas species, while one group belonged to the genus Nesterenkonia. Four Bacillus isolates, Sua-BAC005, Sua-BAC012, Sua-BAC017 and Sua-BAC019, as well as Nesterenkonia sp. Sua-BAC020 were studied further. Isolate Sua-BAC005 affiliated with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens secreted 12.6 U/ml and 9.0 U/ml b-mannanase and b-xylanase, respectively, while isolates Sua-BAC012, Sua-BAC017 and Sua-BAC019 affiliated with Bacillus licheniformis, produced less than 2 U/ml of xylanase, cellulase and mannanase. Nesterenkonia sp. Sua-BAC020 grew at 0 – 20% NaCl with anoptimum at 2.5% NaCl, and at pH 7 – 9.5 with an optimum at pH 9. This isolate produced 3.5 U/ml xylanase when cultivated at pH 8 in 10% NaCl. Five xylanase activity bands were detected on Native-PAGE coupled with zymogram

Pathways to academic success of disadvantaged undergraduate university students from a high-risk community in the Western Cape

Academic success is an indicator of employability and a decreased susceptibility to poverty. South Africa is burdened by high levels of poverty, and low levels of academic achievement. Students in disadvantaged communities such as Delft, in South Africa, typically have poor academic outcomes, since it is linked to socioeconomic status. Despite the myriad of challenges that they encounter, some students from high-risk contexts attain academic success. This study explored the pathways to academic success of disadvantaged university students from a high-risk community in the Western Cape. This qualitative study used a narrative inquiry design. A sample of 10 (N =10) participants were selected using criterion-based purposive sampling. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The pathways to academic success have obstacles, but through positive developmental relationships, specific personal qualities, and motivation, the students achieved academic success. The correlation, significance, and impact of each pathway on academic success can be explored further

An Investigation on the Evaluation of Employee Training and Development Programme at Company X

The aim of the study is to evaluate the current employee training and development programme at an information management company in Johannesburg in order to make recommendations to management for targeted training programmes. The company increased resources to enhance the functioning of all of their processes, practices and systems, including their training and development systems. Methods were sought to ensure that training and development was cost-justified and that training and development activities furthered the organisation’s goals by making all employees more productive. In 2012, training analysts and practitioners provided the training manager with several models and frameworks for best practices. However, few if any of these models were evaluated to determine if the elements of effective practice they describe do make a difference in the quality of training and development programmes. Most employees feel that they are trained just for the sake of settling the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) scorecard. With the advent of these problems the study identified a gap in the evaluation of employee training and development programmes at the company and recommended to management the importance of developing effective training and development practices. 

University Students, Academic Structures and the Processes of Integration

This special issue on Finding a Place to Belong: University Students, Academic Structures and the Processes of Integration contains nine papers on opportunities of belonging and highlights the cultivation of belonging as a fundamental for addressing inequality and inequity in a linguistically and culturally diverse higher education context. Here, belonging challenges the dominant university ideology, which can elude the marginalised or underserved student and staff groups of learning communities. The combination of individual/group agency and identity negotiation for developing and implementing enablers of belonging reveals the challenges and complexity of deconstructing belonging. The papers focus on the barriers and opportunities of belonging and the interaction of agency and enablers of belonging, such as equitable vision, policy, programmes and commitment, as a product of belonging