Browsing by Subject "Transformation"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    Open Access
    An Exploratory Study on the Experiences of Emerging Academics at the University of Cape Town (UCT)
    (2021) Odiase, Osareme Nathan; Kessi, Shose; Malinga, Mandisa
    The quest for institutional transformation has created a need to continually challenge traditional notions of what an academic is and should be. While several studies have explored academics' experiences to engender transformation systems, few studies have focused strictly on emerging academics (permanently working scholars within the first five years of academic careers). These early-career academics are faced with the challenge of adapting to the institutional culture and meeting disciplinary standards of performance. Their novelty in the system makes them more vulnerable to the effect of these challenges. This study aimed to identify how they navigate these challenges, what defines them as academics, what impacts their academic freedoms, how they challenge disciplinary standards of performance, and the extent to which institutional culture affects their experiences. Through a purposive and snowball sampling strategy, 20 academics were selected from the University of Cape Town (UCT) to study. They were interviewed using a semi-structured approach and were asked openended questions with an interview guide. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview data as it utilized an ideographic approach in providing insights into the participants' lived experiences. This methodological approach also helped prioritize how the study is carried out and explore participants' meaning-making processes. The participants perceived being an academic as an opportunity for subjective self-expression and a character-building process. They conceded that being an academic required genuine intellectual curiosity and a platform to engender innovation. The study also uncovered the effects of UCT's institutional and transformative plan on assimilating into the academic space. Academics perceived the performance appraising structure as too prescriptive and affirmed their desire to harness their positions to build strong interpersonal relations with students. The study recommends a more comprehensive and longitudinal approach to studying academic experiences focusing on the psycho-social factors influencing these experiences. The research further suggests a streamlined and faculty-based approach to further strengthening educational support systems at UCT.
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    Open Access
    An investigation of transformation inclusivity in the strategic planning of built environment organisation in South Africa
    (2025) Mabovu, Lunga; Le Jeune, Karen
    The transformation progress has been very slow in terms of delivering employment equity in the built environment. It appears that built environment organisations lack effective strategic plans that promote transformation, fail to use succession planning to embrace transformation, indulge in non-transparent recruitment and promotion procedures that further hamper transformation, and are not held accountable for their lack of transformation. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of lack of transformation inclusivity in the built environment organisations in South Africa. Thereafter find ways to stimulate the transformation inclusion into strategic planning of organisations across various sectors of economy. A quantitative research approach was adopted to provide hard, factual data. Descriptive research was conducted through a literature review, and a web-based survey to investigate the lack of transformation inclusion in the strategic planning of organisations in the built environment professions in South Africa. This study used probability sampling technique and applied cluster sampling to select the sample. A total of 36 respondents were surveyed. The results revealed that none of the respondents agree that employment equity is included in the strategic planning of their organisation. There is lack of incorporation of succession plan in the strategic planning of built environment organisations. The results showed that transparency on recruitment and promotional procedures is not clearly established. The results showed that there is no conclusive evidence on the accountability for not meeting employment targets. The lack of structured change management process is perceived as the main barrier to transformation. The study illustrates the importance of establishing transformation by overcoming imbalances in the HR processes of the organisations by revealing prominent barriers to employment equity in the built environment organisations. This will help HR practitioners and organisation management to establish organisation HR policies that are in line with Department of Labour (DoL) employment equity targets.
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    Open Access
    Exploring a framework for decolonised disability-inclusive student walk support practices in an open and distance learning institution
    (2021) Sipuka, Olwethu; Lorenzo, Theresa; Behari-Leak; Kasturi; ‪Ngubane-Mokiwa, Sindile
    This research examined underpinning aspects of decolonised support service needs and preferences of open distance learning students with disabilities. In order to fulfil this purpose, views and perceptions of students with disabilities on the importance, availability, and accessibility of student support services were investigated. The extensive literature review done confirms the extent to which decolonisation of higher education has received prominence however, that prominence is not given to the decolonisation of support services for students with disabilities. The Capabilities Approach is utilized as the theoretical framework for this study. It coupled with the Social Model of disability channels our focus on the person's abilities rather than the impairments. Positioned as a qualitative illustrative case study, it sought to examine the factors that positively and negatively affect increased decolonisation of the higher education experiences of students with disabilities in South African universities. As the foremost Open Distance Learning institution in South Africa; the University of South Africa is the primary site for the study. Interviews with students with disabilities, the student representative council and staff members responsible for student support revealed the current experiences and perceptions of both students and staff regarding the topic. The study findings revealed key aspects of a decolonised Student Walk as being internationally relevant, students playing a pivotal role as a stakeholder, controlling worldviews, replicating inequalities and curriculum and power plays and clear strategy as a cardinal aspect of the process. It also discovered that decolonisation was not well understood by both staff and students, hypothetically pointing to many barriers than opportunities. There was disjointed institutional support initiatives that needed to be decolonised, inclusive, teaching and student support aligned. The major implications are linked to institutional level strategic support, staff training and awareness, policy reflection and strategy, inclusive initiatives and student involvement. Above all, a decolonised Student Walk framework has been proposed.
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    Open Access
    Is transformation surviving?
    (2016) Daly, Michael; Van Walbeek, Corné
    Recent political events in South Africa have emphasized the importance of faculty diversity. Very little research has considered why it is the case that 20 years after the end of Apartheid, only 14% of professors are black. Or, why the University of Cape Town does not have a single black South African woman who is a full professor. Is it the case that black faculty are discriminated against during the hiring process or is it the case that black faculty depart at significantly higher rates than white faculty as sometimes suggested? Further, how do race, education and institutional factors interact in determining diversity levels? Survival analysis methods coupled with a novel data-set consisting of detailed administrative employee records, proxies for performance and various socio-economic variables are employed to test various hypotheses related to these questions. The findings suggest that the level of diversity is of secondary importance to an employee's race when determining the likelihood of survival at the University of Cape Town. In addition, findings suggest that the university is performing far better in terms of gender equality than racial equality. Overall, race matters, not only through a direct correlation between employee race and tenure length, but also through indirect effects where employees who differ significantly from others in their respective faculty (in terms of race, tenure, age, education and gender) face increased rates of departure from the work place.
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    Local benefits of retaining natural vegetation for soil retention and hydrological services
    (2009) O'Farrell, P. J.; Donaldson, J. S.; Hoffman, M. T.
    Renosterveld is a grassy shrubland with a diverse understory of geophytes. Exceptional plant diversity and endemism, combined with considerable fragmentation due to transformation to cropland, make this vegetation type a conservation priority. The provision of formal reserves is difficult in highly fragmented landscapes. One possible way of motivating for conservation is to demonstrate the ecosystem services derived from the retention of remaining natural fragments, as a motivation for their conservation on private land. This study explored the benefits of retaining renosterveld fragments at the farm-scale based on the hydrological and soil retention services they provide. Rainfall simulations were carried out at paired sites of renosterveld and transformed renosterveld, and renosterveld and managed transformed renosterveld (requiring physical inputs). Infiltration rates, runoff volumes, sediment loads and plant species cover were recorded. This study found that infiltration was linked primarily to vegetation cover, with the highest infiltration rates experienced in renosterveld and managed transformed renosterveld dominated by alien grasses. Similarly aeolian loads and wind speeds among these three vegetation states were explored using suspension traps and hand-held anemometers. Renosterveld remnants were demonstrated to significantly reduce wind speed and aeolian load. Renosterveld provides an important service in reducing runoff, facilitating infiltration and retaining topsoil without expensive management interventions.
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    Transforming the Potchefstroom industrial area and the Ikageng Gateway corridor to combat urban decay.
    (2025) Mokwaledi, Tshepo; Ewing, Kathryn; Crooijmans-Lemmer, Hedwig; Truter, Georgina Jani
    Urban spaces are dynamic entities shaped by the interplay of physical infrastructure, social dynamics, economic forces, and historical legacies (Stanley et al.,2012). This research project explores the complexities of urban decay and transformation within the Potchefstroom Industrial Area, South Africa, with a specific focus on the Ikageng Gateway Corridor. Grounded in the experiences of local figures such as Belinah and Napo Mokwaledi, who once thrived in this area, the study delves into the socio-economic, spatial, and infrastructural challenges and opportunities facing Potchefstroom. Through the lens of Dewar (2019), I examine the imperative of addressing historical legacies and promoting spatial justice in urban design. The Ikageng Gateway Corridor, once a vital artery of connectivity and commerce, now bears the scars of urban decay. This study aims to dissect the manifestations of decay along this corridor and engage with local stakeholders to uncover the lived experiences and aspirations of those affected. The central research question is: How can the Potchefstroom Industrial Area be transformed, with an emphasis on the Ikageng Gateway Corridor, to counter urban decay? I utilize storytelling as a comprehensive methodology, incorporating social mapping, semi-structured interviews, tracking and tracing. These techniques aim to provide a holistic understanding of the corridor's degeneration and potential for transformation. By examining socio-economic factors, spatial conditions, land use patterns, accessibility, and community interactions, I aim to identify best practices and innovative approaches for transformation. The objectives include proposing design interventions to enhance economic development, improve safety, and foster community resilience. This project seeks to review and highlight the challenges of policies, zoning regulations and development plans. And propose design strategies that can transform the Potchefstroom Industrial Area into a vibrant, resilient, and economically vital urban space. Through community engagement and a deep understanding of the area's historical and present context, I aim to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing discourse on urban transformation in Potchefstroom