An analysis of the theory- and employment-demands on mathematics for electrical engineering programmes at technikons

A preliminary study indicated a degree of dissatisfaction with the present mathematics curriculum at technikons amongst academic staff members of technikons as well as members of the electrical-engineering industry. The hypothesis of this study is that the present mathematics curricula for electrical-engineering at technikons are not fully compatible with the demands emanating from the theoretical and the industrial-training (in-service or workplace) components of the training of electrical-engineering technicians. The intent of this study is, firstly, to propose a framework of thought supporting engineering-mathematics curriculum-change in the context of electrical-engineering programmes as offered at technikons. The actual formulation of the syllabus content is supported by a curriculum-change model which takes cognisance of both the theoretical-demands and the workplace- demands in accordance with the aims of co-operative education espoused by technikons in South Africa. Secondly, a literature study of relevant past research leads to the development of a research methodology sympathetic to the present philosophy of technikon education for engineering-technicians in the country. The research methodology involves, firstly, a questionnaire response from practising engineers and technicians. Secondly, it involves the gathering of suggestions from technikon academic staff and the analysis thereof by a work-group representative of all technikons, and led by the researcher. Thirdly, seventy-nine (79) reference-texts to the electrical-engineering programmes (study-levels 1 to 4), offered at the Peninsula Technikon, were analysed for its mathematical content. The research findings supports the hypothesis. The thesis culminates in set of recommendations with regard to the applicability and composition of mathematics syllabi for electrical-engineering programmes at technikons

Graduate entrepreneurial intentions in the rural provinces of South Africa

This paper investigated the entrepreneurial intentions of 355 finalyear commerce students from two universities in the predominantly rural provinces of South Africa, namely Limpopo and the Eastern Cape. The study was based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). The objectives of the study were to test whether the TPB can help explain the entrepreneurial intentions of rural university students in a South African context and to assess whether these students will have the intentions to start their own businesses in the future. The study was conducted by means of a survey using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical multiple regression were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that the TPB is a valuable tool in understanding entrepreneurial intentions, and that the majority of students intend to start a business in the future. The attitude towards becoming an entrepreneur explained the most variance in entrepreneurial intention of the respondents, followed by perceived behavioural control. Subjective norms did not have a significant effect on entrepreneurial intention. The results suggest that the TPB could be a valuable tool for measuring entrepreneurial intentions as part of a comprehensive entrepreneurship development programme in rural areas.Key words: entrepreneurial intention, rural entrepreneurial activity, Limpopo province, Eastern Cape province, South Africa, theory of planned behaviour, youth entrepreneurship developmen

Business Problems Encountered when Developing an Own Business in a Financially Constrained Environment: The North-Eastern Regions of Namibia

The purpose of this paper is to examine the macroeconomic environment of the poorest areas in Namibia, the Caprivi and Kavango regions, and to empirically investigate the problems experienced in developing an own business, specifically in the two largest towns Katima Mulilo and Rundu. First, a macroeconomic analysis of the Caprivi and Kavango regions was conducted to determine the potential for SME growth. It was found that there was no database of businesses in the two largest towns. Subsequently, a census of all the businesses (972) was conducted, from which a random sample of 176 businesses was drawn. The Mann-Whitney, Goodman and Kruskal’s tau and Kendall’s tau-b tests were used to test for differences in problems between the two towns. The major problems encountered in developing businesses were a lack of technical training, a lack of management training, a lack of credit for working capital, low demand and a lack of customers. Significant differences were found between the two towns with regard to major problems encountered. This is the first paper exploring problems experienced by SMEs in the remote regions of Namibia. Interventions such as a training centre for small business management training should be established in the two towns.Keywords: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Namibia, Caprivi and Kavango Regions, Business Problems, Owners versus Managers, Age of Business, Trainin

The relationship between exposure to entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial self-effi cacy

The purpose of this research was to investigate whether students with different levels of exposure to entrepreneurship education would perceive their own entrepreneurial self-efficacy differently from those without such exposure, and whether there is a relationship between perceived  entrepreneurial self-effi cacy and entrepreneurial intent. The study was carried out by means of a survey. The sample consisted of 355 fi nal-year commerce students from two South African universities based in rural provinces, namely the Eastern Cape and Limpopo. SPSS was used to analyse the data. The results revealed that students who had had exposure to entrepreneurship education were statistically signifi cantly different from those who had not in terms of the way in which they perceived their own entrepreneurial self-effi cacy. Entrepreneurial self-effi cacy had a statistically signifi cant relationship with entrepreneurial intent.Key words: entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial self-effi cacy, self-efficacy, social learning theory, South Africa, entrepreneurial intention, rural province

The ontogeny and development of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Chenin blanc inflorescence in relation to phenological stages

The ontogeny and development of inflorescence primordia and flower formation were studied with the aid of scanning electron microscopy. Initiation and differenti ation of the first and second inflorescence primordia in each bud at the two basal nodes occured in the period middle October (12-15 d before bloom) to end November (25 d after bloom). A time lapse of 3 weeks between initiation of the first and second anlagen in a bud was observed. The second anlagen were initiated just after the differentiation of the first. Floral parts were formed in the order calyx, corolla, stamens and pistil and within 20 d after appearance of the inflorescence these parts were fully developed

Superficial brachial artery: a possible cause for idiopathic median nerve entrapment neuropathy

Nerve entrapment syndromes occur because of anatomic constraints at specific locations in both upper and lower limbs. Anatomical locations prone to nerve entrapment syndromes include sites where a nerve courses through fibro-osseous or fibromuscular tunnels or penetrates a muscle. The median nerve (MN) can be entrapped by the ligament of Struthers; thickened biceps aponeurosis; between the superficial and deep heads of the pronator teres muscle and by a thickened proximal edge of flexor digitorum superficialis muscle. A few cases of MN neuropathies encountered are reported to be idiopathic. The superficial branchial artery (SBA) is defined as the artery running superficial to MN or its roots. This divergence from normal anatomy may be the possible explanation for idiopathic MN entrapment neuropathy. This study presents three cases with unilateral presence of the SBA encountered during routine undergraduate dissection at the University of Johannesburg. Case 1 — SBA divided into radial and ulnar arteries. Brachial artery (BA) terminated as deep brachial artery. Case 2 — SBA continued as radial artery (RA). BA terminated as ulnar artery (UA), anterior and posterior interosseous arteries. Case 3 — SBA continued as UA. BA divided into radial and common interosseous arteries. Arteries that take an unusual course are more vulnerable to iatrogenic injury du­ring surgical procedures and may disturb the evaluation of angiographic images during diagnosis. In particular, the presence of SBA may be acourse of idiopathic neuropathies

An empirical analysis of a private company’s corporate social investment in SMME development in South Africa

South Africa has a very high unemployment rate, low economic growth and dismal Total (early-stage) Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) preformance. Both government and private businesses are attemptingto address this problem. A private company, the South African Breweries (SAB), as part of their corporate social investment, runs the SAB KickStart Programme to establish and grow entrepreneurial small businesses among young South Africans. The programme applies four interventions: General Enterprising Tendency test; twoweek live-in business management training; funding and mentoring; and a national competition for prize money. Taking into consideration the cost of funding and operating the programme, its eff ectiveness required investigation. The population for the study comprised all the participants of the SAB KickStart Programme, from 2001 to 2006. From an analysis of variance (ANOVA) applied to the turnover and percentage profi t fi gures of respondents, it was deduced that funding and mentoring, after training, add value to the programme. The programme contributes to enterprise sustainability ,as 80 per cent of the respondents were still operating their initial businesses, while a further six percent have started another business – hence, a ‘failure’ rate of only 14 per cent. In conclusion, it can be said that the SAB KickStart Programme adds value, advances entrepreneurship, and can be replicated by other large institutions in South Africa

The Effect of Trellis Systems on the Performance of Vitis vinif era L. cvs. Sultanina and Chenel in the Lower Orange River Region

The effect of six trellis systems on the reproductive and vegetative performance of Sultanina and Chene), grown in the lower Orange River region of South Africa, was investigated. Larger trellis systems significantly increased the yield of both cultivars, and the photosynthetic activities of the leaves at veraison as well as the canopy light environment tended to be higher for these systems. The higher yields recorded for Sultanina were attributed to improved budding percentages, which were caused by improved light environments at the basal 'buds. The improved yield obtained for Chene! however, was due to higher bunch masses, which were most likely caused by the higher photosynthetic activities of the leaves

Cross-departmental collaboration in strategic sourcing as a catalyst for supplier development : the case of Eskom

Abstract: The objective was to analyse the integration of and collaboration between strategic sourcing and supplier development at Eskom, South Africa’s primary electricity supplier, and to determine how strategic sourcing can be a catalyst for supplier development. Problem investigated: To address fragmented and inefficient procurement, Eskom instituted two departments, Commodity Sourcing (CS), to drive strategic sourcing, and Supplier Development and Localisation (SD&L), to drive supplier development. The problem is that collaboration between CS and SD&L has not materialised and thus their mandates have not been entirely achieved. Research design: A case study research design was employed, drawing from multiple sources of data to triangulate findings. Managers from two departments, CS and SD&L, were separately surveyed, while face-to-face interviews were conducted with executive management. Results: The findings revealed a lack of planning, implementation and monitoring of supplier development in the strategic sourcing process of CS. Although the procurement spend in CS is used to drive supplier development objectives, from the perspective of SD&L, in practice this does not fully materialise..

Histomorphology of the digestive tract of Chonopeltis australis (Crustacea: Branchiura)

The morphology and histology of the digestive tract of the branchiuran crustacean, Chonopeltis australis Box shall, 1976 are described from serial sections. The foregut is differentiated into a preoral cavity, containing the mandibles and tongue, an ascending oesophagus, with an H-shaped lumen invested with longitudinal, circular and dilator muscles, a horizontal oesophagus with a star-shaped lumen and lacking longitudinal and dilator muscles, and an oesophageal funnel consisting of inner and recurrent walls. The midgut is differentiated into anterior and posterior chambers, separated by an S-shaped muscular tube. The arborescent midgut glands open laterally into the anterior part of the anterior midgut. Columnar epithelial cells line the anterior midgut whereas tall, papilliform cells are present in the epithelium of the posterior midgut. The transition from posterior midgut to hindgut is marked by the presence of very tall epithelial cells. The terminology describing the various parts of the digestive tract of branchiurans is discussed