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- Statistical software packages are essential tools in undergraduate education, particularly in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, enabling students to perform complex data analyses and gain practical experience in statistical methods. The integration of these tools into the curricula enhances students’ analytical skills and prepares them for data-driven decision-making in various fields. This study investigates the utilization of statistical packages by undergraduates of Mathematics Education at a university in West Africa. The study aims to determine the level of use of statistical packages among students, identify the challenges faced, and propose strategies to overcome these challenges. A descriptive survey design was used, with data collected from 150 students using structured questionnaires. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation. The results indicate that the students showed moderate use of statistical packages, with a cluster mean of 2.88 (SD = 1.09). With respect to the challenges faced in the utilization of statistical packages, the primary barriers included limited access to computers and the internet (mean = 2.97), high software costs (mean = 2.93), and insufficient training opportunities (mean = 2.99). Based on the findings, the study concluded that while students are aware of statistical packages, their usage remains moderate, hindered by infrastructural and training deficiencies. Strategies such as integrating software training into the curriculum and providing access to free or open-source tools are recommended. Integrating these tools into curricula in the present era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, supported by appropriate resources and training, is essential to foster a comprehensive understanding of statistical methods and their applications.
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- Some call it ‘Digitization’, others call it ‘Automation’ yet, some others use the catchword ‘Industry 4.0’! The unprecedented, and undeniable impacts of tech-jargons such as AI, IoT, VR, AR and CPS across industries and nations has made the 4IR a buzz word globally. Subsequently, many workers, professionals, academics and people in governance are eager to know the effects that the 4IR may have on jobs, skills and the best approach to human capital development in the fast-changing work environment. Hence, in view of these questions begging for answers, this study with four research objectives and questions explores perceptions of effects of the 4IR on expected job disruption and on human capital development approach at the University of Zululand. A structured questionnaire titled ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution Skills Assessment Questionnaire (FIRSAQ)’ was designed, validated by a research analyst, and tested for internal consistency. FIRSAQ with a reliability coefficient of 0.882 was used to gather data from the randomly stratified 170 academic staff members. Findings reveal that perceptions about the probable 4IR skill requirements is high, and the current level of awareness with regards to the effect of 4IR technologies on job disruption is high. Furthermore, the assessment of the significance of 4IR technologies on job disruption and human capital development in the University of Zululand indicated that 4IR significantly affects both job disruption and human capital development. However, findings also showed that the current human capital development approach in the University of Zululand is more formal than informal. Therefore, in view of the propositions from the 70:20:10 model, a change in human capital approach to more of informal than formal approach was recommended.
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- The Fourth Industrial Revolution has become popular around the globe and in almost every industry. Thus, it is set to influence every aspect of business. While previous theoretical and empirical work documents trends of industrial revolution, the preparedness of employees for the new world of work in the Fourth Industrial Revolution remains unchartered territory. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to explore the preparedness of employees for the new world of work in the Fourth Industrial Revolution with eThekwini Municipality in South Africa serving as a case study. The qualitative research methodology was selected as a preferred approach because it reinforces an understanding and interpretation of the meaning as well as the intentions underlying human interactions. A cross-sectional research design was used in the study. A final sample size used for the study consisted of 10 respondents within the municipality. The findings of the study indicated that both the organisation and its workforce are not adequately prepared for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The research findings provide the leadership and management of the eThekwini Municipality in South Africa with an understanding of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the importance of preparing employees for the new world of work.
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- The major aim of this study was to comprehensively evaluate records management practices in the KwaZulu-Natal Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector to achieve improved records management systems, quality service delivery and good corporate governance. The advent of new technology and fourth industrial revolution (4IR) has introduced new facets in the corporate environment including TVET Colleges in South Africa, thereby promoting the growing interest of TVET Colleges in adopting sustainable digital records management systems. This research study was premised on the hypothesis that both the management of paper-based and electronic records amounts to dissatisfactory and falls short of best recognised records management standards and practice. Thus, the primary research question was whether the extent of adherence to records management programmes, policies and standards in the study area yield the desired outcome, given that an effective records management programme plays a pivotal role in the efficient administration of a service oriented TVET College. To achieve this, a literature review and an empirical investigation were conducted. The study was underpinned by both records’ life cycle and the records continuum model. The study utilised the interpretive research paradigm and adopted qualitative research methodology using case study design. The target population for the study was 151, with 116 respondents of those being purposively selected. Thus, purposive sampling was used to identify the research sample for the study. Using triangulated data collection methods, the researcher employed interview schedule, observation techniques, systems, and document analysis in order to enhance the validity and reliability of the research findings. Data obtained through interviews, observations, systems, and document analysis was analysed in terms of content analysis to derive pivotal themes of the study. The key findings established that the general status of management of records in the TVET Colleges is inadequately positioned to support improved records management systems including, inter alia, insufficient integration of ICT in the management of records, thereby undermining the significant growth of the College on electronic services adoption, risk management processes, strategic planning processes, enhancing quality service delivery, promoting good governance, supporting democratic accountability, fulfilling legal and regulatory requirements, promoting and protecting human rights, and ensuring sound financial management. Although some initiatives have been undertaken to enhance records management practices, the existing practices of the study area require serious improvement to the records management system. Therefore, based on the established empirical findings, it can be concluded that the selected study area does not conform to proper records management practices, thereby undermining good corporate governance, accountability, and quality service delivery in the TVET College arena. Therefore, recommendations and a designed framework (TVET-AMSORT) for managing records in support of improved status quo of TVET Colleges in the study area, have been provided. Moreover, in the endeavour to enhance records management practices in the study area, a proposal for the implementation of the recommendations on a priority basis has also been provided. The study’s contribution to scholarly works and literature in the field of public administration resides in its findings and designed framework that can be practically adopted for management of records in support of enhanced records management systems, quality service delivery and good corporate governance. By establishing the nexus between management of records and adherence to records management programmes, policies, and standards in the study area, it is hoped that the study will provide input to policymakers to consider records managers as key stakeholders in TVET Colleges. The study adds value to the prevailing theoretical and legislative phenomena that form the perpetual discourse on the application of improved records management practices in the TVET sector. However, the researcher could not include other TVET Colleges in South Africa due to time limitations. Thus, other researchers can focus on exploring the study in other research institutions in South Africa.
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- 2021| Italian e-Learning A...The aim of this paper was to explore learners’ perspectives on how their schools are preparing them to prosper in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) era, which is powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Taking cognizance of the learners’ perspectives on how South African schools are preparing them is essential for enabling the education fraternity to ascertain its level of effectiveness and efficiency, hence improving its state of readiness to face the challenges of the 4IR. Therefore, the exploration of the level of preparedness, in line with 4IR challenges, can assist educational policy makers and planners to be more proactive and craft mechanisms to ameliorate the obstacles and discrepancies inhibiting the acquisition of the 21st-century educational competences and skills. Employing a qualitative paradigm, semi-structured focus group interviews were used to solicit data from a sample of 30 grade 10 and 11 learners. Findings reveal that computer technology was irregularly and insignificantly used, indicating that South African schools are highly ineffective in dispensing grade-appropriate skills, thus producing ill-prepared learners to prosper in the 4IR world of work.
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- The emergence of learning technology in higher education is an interesting phenomenon that continues to gain acceptance. While South Africa is regarded as one of the leading African nations with quality higher education, there is a need for her tertiary institutions to fortify their technological learning spaces to meet the needs of today's upwardly-mobile higher education students. This study adopts a single case qualitative study design in the form of a survey to examine the state of technological learning spaces in a comprehensive university. The actual data for the study was collected from eight (8) academic staff in a rural-based university in South Africa. Data were collected through focus group interviews to allow for rich descriptions of the true state of technological space of learning in the institution. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The main variables of technological learning spaces were broken down into sub-themes to address key research issues raised
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- The South African higher-education sector is currently undergoing a significant phase in its transition. The phase is marked by a sense of uncertainty felt across institutions and entities that make up the sector. This uncertainty, to a large extent, is brought about by the socio-political realities the transition entails. Compounding this situation is the advent of the 4th Industrial Revolution (Hadden), a phenomenon to which the higher-education sector needs a heightened degree of adaptability. The learning environments provided by the higher-education sector are therefore crucial in terms of advancing the cause of positive social change as a realisable educational objective. Against this backdrop, this conceptual article examines the issue of social change as a moral imperative. The purpose is therefore to contribute to the 4IR discourse currently evolving in the context of South African higher education and its social change agenda, with cognitive capitalism as a theoretical lens. Significant scholarly work has been done on the issue of technological advancement and its implications for the social practice of education. However, a concerted effort has not been undertaken to examine the 4IR as an inevitable educational experience with potential to be both materialistically transformative and morally enslaving. The article concludes that, as 4IR unfolds into a magnificent event and starts to control every aspect of human life in general, and education in particular, the moral and ethical affirmations that support the experience of education may run into troubled waters.
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