286 research outputs found
Institutional culture and internationalisation: a study of Black African academicsā experiences at Rhodes University
This research sets out to examine institutional culture and internationalisation in higher education in contemporary South Africa, by analysing the experiences of black foreign academics at Rhodes University. Much has been written on the adaptation processes of foreign students in South African universities (Ayliff and Wang, 2006; Dzansi and Monnapula-Mapesela, 2012; Mudhovozi, 2011). There is also a host of literature on the black South African experience of adaptation and (non) belonging at historically white universities (HWU) (Akoojee and Nkomo, 2007; Cornell and Kessi, 2017; Soudien, 2008). Comparatively less is written on whether there are any unique pressures regarding institutional culture that black foreign African academics face at historically white institutions such as Rhodes University. The black experience may be misrepresented as a homogenous one by much of the literature on higher education transformation (Batsai, 2019). But there are a host of factors that could change your experience of being āblackā, such as your class, and gender and quite recently there has been a push to further examine the effect that oneās nationality has on their experience of being āblackā in the academy (Batsai, 2019). Institutional culture refers to the ābehaviours and values that make up the unique psychological and social environment of a certain institutionā (Toma et al., 2005). Internationalisation of higher education in the context of Africa, particularly South Africa refers to āthe intentional or unintentional process to integrate intercultural, international and global dimensions in higher educationā (Draft Policy Framework for the Internationalisation of Higher Education in South Africa, 2017). In analysing the experiences of international African academics, this research is trying to give a voice to an often-overlooked group of individuals. This research is also meant to portray the black experience in South African higher education as an experience that is not homogenous but reliant on a host of unique identity factors such as gender, class and also their nationality
How Has The Journey to Womanhood Affected Female Somali Immigrants
Abstract
This thesis discusses the practice of female circumcision among Somali immigrant women in a small Midwest community. The literature review gives the historical background of the practice, how it has been criminalized, how organizations are change agents and what impact culture has upon the practice. In the methodology section, the research method is reviewed and highlights the success and difficulties of the qualitative research that was conducted over a span of 2.5 years. The section describes the process from the beginning of me having a presence in the Somali community to how I networked and used a snow ball sampling method to gain additional interviewees. The first woman who interviewed with me helped me gain the confidence and trust of the women who followed suit. Additionally, the analysis explores the reasoning behind, and cultural meaning that is tied to the practice, and how it affects women for the course of their adult life. The analysis gives voice to the womenās personal experience with the practice and in what ways it affects their sense of self. Their stories inform the reader about the impact of their culture and how it is challenged by being in the United States. The conclusion discusses the findings from the interviews, and highlights the ways in which women feel they have been impacted. It then discusses what variables are at play in challenging the future of the practice
The advantages of algebra for learning proof
Calls to expand proof beyond geometry are usually based on the general benefits of proving for students, but this essay argues that proof should be extended to algebra because the representational systems in algebra are well suited for understanding the generality and deductive flow of proofs
Linking Farmers to Markets through Modern Information and Communication Technologies in Kenya
This paper highlights a market information and linkage system (MILS) developed and tested by the Kenya Agricultural Commodity Exchange Limited (KACE) that increases the efficiency of agricultural markets to work better for smallholder farmers and other small and medium sized agro-enterprises (SMEs). The MILS involves harnessing modern information and communication technologies (ICTs) to empower farmers with low-cost reliable and timely market information to enhance the bargaining power of the farmer for a better price in the market place, and to link the farmer to markets more efficiently and profitably. The components of the KACE MILS are (www.kacekenya.com): Rural based Market Information Points (MIPs) which are information kiosks located in rural markets, District-level Market Information Centres (MICs), Mobile Phone Short Messaging Service (SMS), Interactive Voice Response (IVR), Internet based database system, rural FM radio and the Central Coordinating Hub in Nairobi. KACE has adopted a business approach to the provision of its services: users pay for the services. For instance it charges: placement fees per initial offer or bid (US 65 for 6 months or US 2,000-5,000/visit) and revenue sharing agreements with SMS and IVR service providers. When the KACE MILS services are scaled out and widely used by many farmers and SMEs across Kenya, the system will generate sufficient revenue to sustain its services without reliance on development partner funding. To enhance the financial sustainability of the MILS services further, KACE has recently initiated two innovations: franchising MIPs and MICs to local entrepreneurs, and establishing a virtual trading floor to improve the matching of offers and bids through a rural-based FM Radio program. A recent study of the impact of the KACE MILS concluded that the proportion of farmers and traders that say their incomes has increased and their bargaining positions have improved is very high (75% farmers and 60% commodity traders). Furthermore, the study concluded that it was clear that during the years in which the KACE MILS has been operational, market integration improved for two commodities studied (i.e. maize and beans). This study also highlights the challenges faced by the KACE MILS, including poor infrastructure that imposes high transport costs to markets, high costs of mobile phone calls and SMS and small quantities of produce of varying quality offered. Keywords: Information and communication technology, innovations, Kenya,Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, International Relations/Trade, Land Economics/Use, Marketing, Productivity Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,
Principalsā Use of Student Mentorship Programmes and Studentsā Discipline in Secondary Schools in Machakos County, Kenya
Studies have advocated for participatory governance in education (Kindiki, 2009, Tikoko& Kiprop, 2011). There is however a dearth of literature on use student mentoring in relation to discipline. The purpose of this study was investigating principalsā use of student mentorship programmes and studentsā discipline in secondary schools in Machakos County, Kenya. The study sought to establish the focus of student mentoring and determine significant relationships existed between principalsā use of successful alumni, mentoring on ethical living and studentsā discipline in secondary schools. The study used systems theory by Ludwig Bartalanffy which postulates that schools are part of the environment in which they operate and influence and get influenced by other systems. Questionnaires for principals and student leaders were used. Cross-sectional survey design was adopted with a target population of 354 secondary schools principals and 4602 student leaders. Probability sampling was employed and stratified proportionate random sampling was used. A sample of 118 secondary school principals and 1534 student leaders were sampled and the return rate consisted of 101(85.6%) principals, 100 teachers (100%) and 1433(93.4%) student leaders. Frequencies, percentages and Means were used to compare various forms of mentoring while correlation coefficients were used to determine the strengths of the association between the various participatory practices and establish if statistically significant or not. Student mentoring was practised in 66.3 per cent of schools with attendant reduced cases of indiscipline. There was a strong correlation between use of successful alumni, mentoring on academic excellence, mentoring on ethical living and student discipline
Influence of Principalsā Involvement of Students in Decision Making on Discipline in Secondary Schools, Kenya
Stakeholder involvement is critical in that it can enhance levels of ownership of the decisions made as well building trust between the governors and the governed. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence principalsā involvement of students in decision making on student discipline in secondary schools, Kenya. The study sought to establish the areas of student involvement in decision making by secondary school principals and determine whether significant differences exist between reported incidences of student indiscipline based on the levels of student involvement in decision making in secondary schools. The study employed systems theory by Ludwig Bertalanffy which looks at organisations as systems. Schools are viewed as parts joined together by web of relationships both within and outside the school. Using a descriptive survey design with a target population of 354 secondary school principals, 300 teachers and 4602 student leaders, a sample of 118 principals and 1534 student leaders were sampled through stratified proportionate sampling. Questionnaires for principals and student leaders were used for the study. The return rate was 101 principals (85.6%) and 1433(93.4%) student leaders. Cross-tabulations were done to determine whether the mean occurrences of student indiscipline were different based on levels of principalsā involvement of students in decision making. The findings indicated that 94.1 per cent of principals involved students in decision making with varying degrees of involvement for student welfare. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) did not indicate significant differences between involvement in decision making and lowering of cases of drug and substance abuse, cases of arson and student suspension. The incidences of student indiscipline in those schools were low, as evidenced by lowered cases of arson factor that could be attributed to Ā students sense of ownership and feeling respected and recognised. The study concluded that involvement in decision making is a key driver to studentās discipline. The study could be replicated in a number of counties involving teachers and Board members as respondents. In addition, the study could be replicated using mixed methods with more inclination to the qualitative research
Response of cowpea genotypes to Alectra vogelii parasitism in Kenya
Cowpea is popular in Eastern Kenya where it is attractive to farmers because of its high economic value and the belief that it does not require many external inputs. Farmers are however discouraged to grow the crop in this region due to massive attack by a parasitic weed Alectra vogelii (Benth). Yield losses due to A. vogelii have being estimated to range from 50 to 100% in Mbeere, Kitui and Makueni districts. No single method however is available to farmers in these regions in control of the parasitic weed. Combining several control methods, as in the management of Striga spp in Western Kenya should be a sustainable option. Field studies were conducted in 2010 and 2011 at Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Kiboko farm to determine the response of 143 cowpea genotypes to Alectra infestation. The aim for the study was to identify resistant genotypes that could be used in breeding programme. Significant differences were observed amongst cowpea genotypes in days to first Alectra emergence, number of Alectra shoots emerged at 6, 8, 10 and 12 week after planting and grain yield. Cowpea genotypes Kir/Nya-005 and Mbe/Mach-022 showed complete resistance toĀ Alectra while Ken-Kunde, M66 and K80 (all commercial varieties) supported the highest number of Alectra shoots. Grain yield loss in the three susceptible varieties was 80, 79 and 50% respectively. On the other hand, Sia/Cia-004, Mbe/Mach-014 and Kib-006 had high grain yields despite the high number of Alectra shoots present. There was a strong correlation (r = -0.57) between grain yield and number of Alectra shoots emerged at 12 weeks after planting. A significant negative (r = -0.37) correlation was also obtained between pod number per plant and number of emerged Alectra shoots at 12 weeks after planting. This negative correlation proves the high accumulation dry matter in the cowpea roots at the expense of the pods thus decreasing grain yield. This information showed that there is sufficient genetic variability in the cowpea genotypes studied, which can be exploited in breeding improved cowpea varieties for resistance to A. vogelii in Kenya. A great progress towards developing improved cowpea variety that meets farmerās preferences with durable resistance to A. vogelii can be achieved if the genes from the resistant and tolerant local cowpea cultivars identified in this study could be introgressed into the adapted susceptible improved varieties. This will increase the potential impact of adoption of resistant cowpea varieties in the zones.Key words: Cowpea, Alectra vogelii, Resistance/tolerance and grain yield
The effect of alpha(+)-thalassaemia on the incidence of malaria and other diseases in children living on the coast of Kenya
BACKGROUND: The alpha-thalassaemias are the commonest genetic disorders of humans. It is generally believed that this high frequency reflects selection through a survival advantage against death from malaria; nevertheless, the epidemiological description of the relationships between alpha-thalassaemia, malaria, and other common causes of child mortality remains incomplete. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We studied the alpha+-thalassaemia-specific incidence of malaria and other common childhood diseases in two cohorts of children living on the coast of Kenya. We found no associations between alpha+-thalassaemia and the prevalence of symptomless Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia, the incidence of uncomplicated P. falciparum disease, or parasite densities during mild or severe malaria episodes. However, we found significant negative associations between alpha+-thalassaemia and the incidence rates of severe malaria and severe anaemia (haemoglobin concentration < 50 g/l). The strongest associations were for severe malaria anaemia (> 10,000 P. falciparum parasites/mul) and severe nonmalaria anaemia; the incidence rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for alpha+-thalassaemia heterozygotes and homozygotes combined compared to normal children were, for severe malaria anaemia, 0.33 (95% CI, 0.15,0.73; p = 0.006), and for severe nonmalaria anaemia, 0.26 (95% CI, 0.09,0.77; p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Our observations suggest, first that selection for alpha+-thalassaemia might be mediated by a specific effect against severe anaemia, an observation that may lead to fresh insights into the aetiology of this important condition. Second, although alpha+-thalassaemia is strongly protective against severe and fatal malaria, its effects are not detectable at the level of any other malaria outcome; this result provides a cautionary example for studies aimed at testing malaria interventions or identifying new malaria-protective genes
Gold nanoparticle enhanced capillary electrophoresis separations for Alzheimer's disease biomarker detection.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory and cognitive loss, the formation of senile plaques containing amyloid-beta (AĆ) peptides, degeneration of the cholinergic neurons and the development of neurofibrillary tangles in the brains of the affected people.1 It is estimate that 5.1 million people in the United States are suffering from AD. The total annual care cost
associated with AD is more than $ 148 billion and is constantly increasing3. Presently, there is no specific clinical test to diagnose AD, however, amyloid beta peptides and tau proteins have been shown to be reliable biomarkers that can be used for AD diagnosis and tracking disease progression.5 It is important therefore that proper methods and techniques be devised for the identification, quantification and analysis of AD biomarkers to enable the reliable clinical diagnosis of the disease. In this study, modified gold nanoparticles were used as a pseudo stationary phase in a capillary electrochromatography technique. An asymmetric disulfide synthesized from mercaptoundecanoic acid and dodecanethiol was chemisorbed onto 10 nm gold nanoparticles to form the pseudo stationary phase. With the help of the gold nanoparticle
pseudo stationary phase, the separation of two Alzheimerās disease biomarkers namely; amyloid beta 40 and amyloid beta 42 was accomplished. This study demonstrates that the presence of modified gold nanoparticles in capillary electrochromatography can greatly influence the separation of amyloid beta peptides
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