An entrepreneurship education, training and support framework for South African architects

This article will report the findings of a study undertaken to propose an integrated education and training framework that can enhance the entrepreneurial performance of South African Architects’ firms while contributing to the current discourse on entrepreneurial education and training. Many South African architects’ firms are finding it difficult to stay afloat (Corbert 2015, 44). While there could be many reasons for this situation, the absence of appropriate entrepreneurship education, training and support for architects could be a contributing factor. Substantial agreement exists amongst entrepreneurial education and training theorists that a phased approach that includes enacted learning is best suited for entrepreneurship education and training. Hence the article proposes a framework as a basic conceptual structure within which the education and training can be packaged. The study used a mixed methods approach as a single source was insufficient and, due to the use of multiple phases or projects, could best achieve the overall research objective (Creswell & Plano-Clark 2011, 8). The purpose of the article is to bring the findings and recommendations to the attention of those who can put them into effect and to contribute to the discourse on entrepreneurship education and training.  

Between the Prose of Justice and the Poetics of Love? Reading Ricœur on Mutual Recognition in the Light of Harmful Strategies of “Othering”

Against the backdrop of the challenges posed by xenophobia and other social phenomena that operated with harmful strategies of “othering,” this article considers the promise that the notion of “mutual recognition” as exemplified in the later work of Paul Ricœur holds for discourse on these matters. Can the hermeneutical and mediating approach of Ricœur provide an adequate framework in order to respond to these radical challenges? In light of this question, this article discusses and ultimately affirms Ricœur’s view that places mutual recognition between what he calls the prose of justice and the poetics of agápē. In addition this article draws attention to the value of symbolic gestures and an ethic of linguistic hospitality to give further texture to the plea for mutual recognition amidst experience of exclusion, conflict and violence.Face aux défis de la xénophobie et des autres phénomènes sociaux liés aux stratégies nuisibles “d’altérisation,” cet article réfléchit à la promesse que représente la notion de “reconnaissance mutuelle” telle qu’elle se trouve définie dans les derniers travaux de Paul Ricœur. Dans quelle mesure l’approche herméneutique de Ricœur et son travail de médiation sont-ils susceptibles de répondre à ces défis radicaux? En prenant cette question comme fil conducteur, cet article discute et reprend finalement à son compte la thèse de Ricœur selon laquelle la reconnaissance mutuelle se situe entre ce qu’il appelle la “prose” de la justice et la “poésie” de l’agapè. L’auteur attire en outre l'attention sur la valeur des gestes symboliques et de l’hospitalité ethnique et linguistique susceptibles de donner plus de consistance à l’appel pour la reconnaissance mutuelle au sein de cette expérience d’exclusion, de conflit et de violence

An Assessment of Critically Ill Children admitted to a General High Care Unit in a Regional Hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa

Background Many critically ill children in South Africa are cared for in regional hospitals by general Paediatricians. Critically ill adults and children are usually cared for in the same units. There is limited data on the numbers of children admitted and the outcomes of these children. Objective To describe the patient profile and outcomes of children admitted to a general high care unit (HCU) in a regional hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa. Methods This was a retrospective descriptive study of all children admitted to the HCU of George Regional Hospital during a one year period (2016). Demographic data, HIV, anthropometric data, immunisation status, diagnoses, medical interventions, length of stay, death or survival, and referral data to the tertiary paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) were collected. The PIM3 score and Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) was calculated. Results Thirty percent (144/468) of the HCU admissions were children. Most (70%) were admitted after hours. Half were under 9 months (range 3 days to 149 months). Sixty-five percent of the children required respiratory support and 45% needed inotropic support. Twenty percent of the children were transferred to the PICU. Twelve children (8,5%) died with most deaths (75%) occurring at regional level. Half of the deaths were due to sepsis with pneumonia (25%) and diarrhoea with shock (25%) accounting for the rest. The cumulative PIM3 score was 9.049 (95%CI 6.430-11.668) with an SMR of 1.326 (95%CI 1.028-1.866) observed. Conclusion Critically ill children accounted for a third of HCU admissions. Most children needed medical interventions. These require specific training and equipment that are often lacking. After hours admissions also put strain on limited staff. Most children were successfully discharged demonstrating a good outcome. This was achievable with good channels of communication and transport to a tertiary PICU

Post-industrial urban quarries as places of recreation and the new wilderness – a South African perspective

The objective of this article is threefold: To re-evaluate the concept of wilderness as a place to be experienced by human beings as part of their outdoor recreational needs; to investigate if reclaimed post-industrial urban quarries can fulfil these needs, and to investigate the legislative frameworks in South Africa within which such reclamation and re-use can be undertaken. The objective is not to present detailed case studies of post-industrial urban quarries that have been rehabilitated or redeveloped for a different land use, but rather to demonstrate the potential of such quarries. The majority of South Africa’s population is urbanised and has hardly any prospect, due to various constraints, of ever visiting natural or even ‘man-made wilderness’ areas for recreational purposes. The currently held concept of wilderness is critically evaluated and the need to change our perception of wilderness is discussed. The biophysical and socio-economic nature, as well as the legal framework, within which the redevelopment potential of our ubiquitous post-industrial urban quarries must be viewed, are examined to determine whether they can be reclaimed as outdoor recreation places and a new ‘urban wilderness’. It is shown, through a literature review and examining five case studies, that reclaimed quarries can satisfy urban dwellers’ innate need for outdoor recreational spaces and natural or wilderness areas, albeit man-made and despite the procedural challenges posed by the requirements of the South African regulatory urban spatial planning frameworks and Acts

The certainty of chance and a new noise: a pan-idiomatic approach that explores the boundaries of composition, improvisation and creative technology

This thesis, which is made up of both practical compositional work and a commentary, proposes a new relationship between composition, notation, improvised music, and technology. This thesis proposes ways in which technology can facilitate new approaches to the integration of composition, notation and improvisation. This thesis considers how our understanding of, and relationship to, composition and improvisation change when new technologies are used in performance settings. The thesis also suggests how contemporary practitioners can employ technologies practically to create new methodologies that challenge older, more established, paradigms. This thesis also suggests practical ways in which technology can be employed to challenge and extend traditional concepts of notation, form and genre. As well as proposing and examining practical issues, this thesis develops a new conceptual framework within the commentary, to help discuss the practice-based discoveries of the project

Establishing viable architectural firms

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Exploring factors contributing to current versus former coaching status of women coaches: A social exchange theory perspective.

The percentage of women coaches at the helm of women’s sports teams has dropped from 90% in 1972, to 42.6% in 2010 (Carpenter & Acosta, 2010). Previous research has found that women coaches experience discrimination (Greenhaus et al., 1990) social stigma, and homophobia (Griffin, 1998). Difficulties with work-life balance have been identified as a barrier to coaching. Mentoring has been positive for the development of career satisfaction, commitment and positive job attitudes (Ragins et al., 2000), however, the role of mentoring in retaining women coaches needs exploration. This study used social exchange theory to determine if perceived costs/benefits of coaching, mentoring, work-life balance and coaching experiences could predict coaching career outcomes (current/non-coaching status). Current (n=442) and former (n=171) NCAA Division I head and assistant coaches completed an online survey. Five former coaches participated in phone interviews. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to predict coaching status (former/current) using demographic, costs/benefits to coaching, mentoring and work-life balance factors. The model correctly classified 81.3% of cases and the model accounted for 25.1-37.3% of the variance. Informal and formal mentoring significantly decreased the odds of being a former coach compared to no mentoring; however, mentoring satisfaction increased the odds of being a former coach. Work-life support decreased the odds of being a former coach. Qualitative results revealed the importance of mentoring, networking, personal balance and the impact of coaching on interpersonal relationships. Participants discussed experiences with structural barriers in athletics, homophobia and their decision to leave coaching

Remembering the Heidelberg Catechism in South Africa today? Some remarks on the commemoration of a 16th century reformed confession

With the 450th anniversary of the Heidelberg Catechism of 2013 in mind, this article offers some remarks on the question what it means to remember and commemorate this 16th century Reformed confession in South Africa today. The first part of the article argues that commemorations invite us to be conscious of the close link between memory and identity, as well as to the fact that our memories of the past are often highly contested memories. The second part of the paper comments on the status of the Heidelberg Catechism as a historical document, while the third part of the paper extends the discussion with a focus on the reception of the Heidelberg Catechism in South Africa. By highlighting a few episodes from its reception history, the article affirms the view of the Heidelberg Catechism as an important identity marker amidst contestation

A comparison of three public projects that included community participation to determine the total value add

Some of the most pressing and challenging problems facing South Africa are unemployment, poverty, urban redress, infrastructural decay, under-education, and the transformation of the landscape left by apartheid. In an effort to address these problems, the successive democratic governments embarked on a number of initiatives that were aimed at providing relief through building and construction projects, which require the participation by, and employment of local community members. To facilitate the desired redress, various programmes were launched and a number of projects undertaken. Some of these projects were flagship projects that were lauded by the architectural profession and attracted wide publicity. The socio-economic benefits to the community and local area, the extent of skills transfer to the community participants, and the long-term benefits they brought to the community participants are less obvious. This article revisits three such projects as case studies, with the aim of determining the extent to which they helped address the aforementioned problems and the extent of the benefits they brought to their physical and social contexts. This is done through a literature review supported by semi-structured interviews of relevant role players and an observational visit to each, in order to make recommendations suggesting how future projects could be configured to maximise the long-term benefit they could bring to their physical and social environments while addressing the national challenges. It is recommended that infrastructural development programmes such as the Extended Public Works Programme must prioritise the socio-economic upliftment and sustainable empowerment of people and configure projects with this as their main aim