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This study examines how formal and informal institutional pressures influence public sector financial reporting quality in Ghana. Despite ongoing public financial management reforms, challenges such as weak enforcement of standards, inconsistent disclosures, and limited transparency continue to undermine reporting quality. Existing research has largely emphasised technical and administrative determinants, with limited attention to the role of institutional pressures in shaping reporting behaviour. Grounded in Institutional Theory, the study adopts a quantitative approach and collects data from 344 senior finance officers across ministries, departments, and agencies in Ghana. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is employed to analyse the relationships between regulatory environment, government structure, societal expectations, stakeholder expectations, and financial reporting quality. The results indicate that government structure and societal expectations significantly enhance financial reporting quality, while the regulatory environment and stakeholder expectations have no significant direct effects. The study contributes to institutional theory by demonstrating that formal and informal pressures exert unequal influence in a developing-country public sector context. It also extends public sector accounting literature by providing large-sample empirical evidence from Ghana. The findings suggest that improving reporting quality requires strengthening governance structures, enhancing civic accountability mechanisms, and improving enforcement capacity.

This study examines the long-run relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and institutional quality within the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), focusing on Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia over the period 2002–2019. Drawing on institutional theories of FDI, the analysis employs governance indicators such as political stability, control of corruption, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, and rule of law to assess their influence on investment dynamics. Using panel unit root and cointegration tests, the study confirms the existence of a stable long-term equilibrium among the variables. The Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) estimator is applied to quantify these relationships. Empirical results indicate that control of corruption, political stability, and regulatory quality exert significant positive effects on FDI inflows, even after accounting for macroeconomic controls. Conversely, government effectiveness and rule of law show no statistically significant impact in the presence of the macroeconomic control variables. These findings underscore the critical role of institutional quality in shaping the investment climate of AMU economies. Policy implications suggest that targeted reforms such as strengthening anti-corruption frameworks, enhancing political stability, and improving regulatory governance can bolster institutional credibility, mitigate investment risk, and attract sustainable FDI to the region.  

Gender-based violence (GBV) against women is one of the most widespread and long-established social issues in South Africa that is conditioned by historical, cultural, and structural factors that have created a normalized environment of male dominance and accepted different types of gendered violence. This study provides a sociological explanation of GBV in terms of power and patriarchy and structural inequality area and how these interconnected factors create and maintain violence in intimate relationships, families, and the broader social institution. Using the feminist theory, intersectionality and sociological theory of power relations, the research questions the role of cultural norms, economic dependence, socialisation process as well as institutional failures in causing high incidences of violence against women. However, even after the enactment of progressive laws, including Domestic Violence Act, Sexual Offences Act, etc, the lived conditions of women still portray the vulnerabilities of the system to historical disparities, deep-rooted patriarchal philosophies and gender hierarchies. A qualitative research design was used to gather the data, where in-depth interviews, focus group and documentary analysis of women who have experienced GBV, community members and key informants including social workers, activists and legal practitioners were used to collect data. It shows that the patriarchal systems of power exist on a variety of levels family, community, cultural and institutional to naturalize violence, victimize the victim, and absolve the criminal. Results participants affirm the importance of social norms of masculinity, poverty, inequality in access to resources, and inadequate institutional responses in perpetuating fear, dependence, and subsequent exposure to violence within women. In addition, the study demonstrates how the combination of poverty, race, rurality, and social support services worsen the vulnerability of women, which leads to a reflexive relationship in which violence turns into an individual and societal problem. This study concludes that GBV in South Africa cannot be examined solely as the instances of violence but should be examined as the expression of unequal power relations, which can be found within social structures. The solution to GBV would therefore have to be multi-level and involves efforts to confront patriarchal norms, foster community accountability, bolster legal protection, and increase socio-economic opportunities of women. The results add to the existing pool of sociological research on the topic of gender and violence, providing an important insight into the reasons why GBV continues to be a problem and the changes in the structure that are required in order to mitigate it.

There has been a global recognition of the importance of the Ubuntu philosophy to decolonizing education in Africa and beyond. This recognition is a result of the usefulness of Ubuntu in decolonizing education and addressing the critical areas of value orientation among indigenous people, particularly in Africa. The call for integrating the principles of Ubuntu into the curriculum will facilitate behavioral modification and embed indigenous values and spirituality into the education system in Africa. However, this study aims to investigate the extent of research conducted on Ubuntu philosophy and the Decolonization of Education in Africa. The researchers performed a bibliometric analysis using Biblioshiny, a component of the bibliometric package in RStudio designed for text mining analysis, to collect data from the WoS database, the largest database. Data selection followed certain criteria, including that articles must be peer-reviewed, published between 2010 and 2024, and in English. The authors used the PRISMA flow model for data collection, which was analyzed with the RStudio statistical package to identify the most cited institutions and countries, production trends, and the most productive country. Results show South Africa as the most productive and cited country on Ubuntu philosophy and Decolonization. The findings also indicate the majority of the productions are single-country collaborations. The review also reveals authors like Metz (2010), Gade (2012), Letseka (2012), and Le Grange (2012) as the most influential authors emphasizing integration of Ubuntu philosophy in education theory and practice.

In Southern Africa, the human immunodeficiency virus constitutes a significant public health challenge, characterised by elevated rates of new infections in rural populations. Conversely, biomedical interventions have facilitated advancement. The incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge Systems into Human Immunodeficiency Virus preventive techniques is still little investigated. This systematic analysis assesses the incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge Systems into community-based HIV prevention strategies in Southern Africa. This systematic review complied with the PRISMA principles. A search was performed across various electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and CINAHL, for papers published from 01 January 2015 to 31 June 2025. A total of 51,972 studies were discovered, of which 14 matched the inclusion criteria and were evaluated. The analysis revealed that incorporating Indigenous Knowledge Systems into community-based HIV prevention programs in Southern Africa improved cultural relevance, community involvement, and trust in health initiatives. Traditional healers significantly contributed to counselling, education, and the increase of HIV testing in rural regions, leading to enhanced service accessibility and diminished stigma. Notwithstanding these advantages, several projects nevertheless lacked official policy support and organised collaborations between conventional and biological health sectors.

This article explores the perceptions of teachers about their role to implement the national school nutrition programme in the Harry Gwala District KwaZulu-Natal. This article originated from my Ph.D. study in which a qualitative research design with a sample of teachers was used, and nutrition coordinators who play a primary role in the school nutrition programme. Data was collected through individual interviews and document analysis. The study findings indicated that teachers perceived their role to interact with learners during feeding time as necessary in order to achieve the main objectives of the programme. The findings secondly indicated that teachers have a perception that their monitoring and supervision role ensured that there is a great need to check food stuff delivered by service providers as the key to ensure smooth running of the school nutrition programme, the findings thirdly emphasis that, teachers perceived as their role to ensure that all learners at school benefit from the programme. The findings also heighted that teachers were demotivated by unavailability of feeding equipment in their role to implement the school nutrition programme. The study also assert that school teachers had a perception that smooth running of the school nutrition programme depends on their proper management and administration of the programme. The study also find that teachers perceived safety and security on school nutrition programme as the most challenging aspect on their role to implement the programme. It was also discovered that the duty to that the service providers, Volunteer Food Handlers are not paid on time is also perceived as a barrier to programme implementation. Teachers have a perception that food for learners should be prepared and served under hygienic conditions even if the infrastructure if poorly developed. This study has a meaningful contribution to the entire implementation of the national school nutrition programme, and also fill the gap on how teachers perceive their role in the implementation of the school nutrition programme.

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a critical issue in South African universities, affecting students' access to safe and quality education. Despite universities’ reputations for inclusivity, societal expectations have made them less welcoming, and GBV cases continue to rise with insufficient policy enforcement. This study was motivated by the rising cases of GBV in South African universities. Drawing on social norms’ theory, the study aimed to identify the drivers, effects, and potential mitigation strategies for addressing GBV. The goal was to build a stronger basis for improving policies and creating safer, more inclusive university environments. A qualitative approach was used to gather secondary data from various sources, including journal articles, books, government documents, and news reports. The literature revealed that GBV in South African and other universities has sparked frequent protests centred on issues of sexual, physical, and emotional violence. Moreover, it was also highlighted that many students refrained from reporting GBV incidents due to concerns about stigma and the impact on their careers, with victims often facing anxiety, depression, and physical symptoms, which further impeded their participation in university life and restricted their educational opportunities. This study concluded that GBV restricted students' access to quality education and, if unaddressed, might lead to declining university enrolment. Thus, it recommended collaboration between universities, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and families to tackle GBV and called for a review of policies to improve enforcement and provide better protection for students.  

Internationally, the issue of gender equality in higher education has been a serious challenge, particularly in leadership roles. This issue has spread to African countries, including South Africa. Despite the implementation and adaptation of gender equity policies, such as the Employment Equity Act of 1998, women remain underrepresented in both support and academic leadership roles within South African institutions of higher education. Studies have been conducted in this area focusing on examining structural barriers, policy gaps, and gender representation. Still, few have synthesised women’s personal narratives across multiple sources using secondary qualitative data. This current paper exists to address that gap. It further revisits the concept of the glass ceiling by unpacking women's lived experiences of career progression across the sector in recent years. It uses a qualitative approach and relies on secondary data to examine how women experience and respond to institutional barriers. The data were analysed narratively to highlight personal stories, identities, and meaning-making processes of women navigating leadership. The paper found that women in higher education are skilled and committed, but they remain constrained by outdated institutional systems that offer symbolic inclusion and limited support, thereby preventing genuine access to leadership roles. Despite this invisible glass ceiling, women remain strong and resilient, living the meaning of “wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo.” (A woman is a rock), they continue to push forward and lead even when the higher education system fails them. Therefore, it recommends that the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) strengthen the enforcement of gender equity policies through regular gender audits, leadership development programmes, and accountability mechanisms to promote authentic empowerment and sustainable transformation.

Despite efforts made by the government and organizations with the intent of improving gender equality and promoting women’s participation at the highest levels of management within the financial sector and other male-dominated industries, women still lag significantly. This issue persists despite the prevalence of biases that affect their performance. This study examined the experience of female leaders working within the financial services sector of a South African organization with regards to the availability of access to mentoring and the glass ceiling phenomenon. A qualitative approach of research methodology was employed through the application of semi-structured interviews with an in-depth exploration of the opinions of nine female leaders. Themes were used to identify patterns that emerged with the application of this approach. The study results indicated that the female executives experience numerous difficulties that include inequality during the process of selecting employees, pay disparities between the female and male employees, lack of respect from their fellow workers or employees at their respective institutions of employment, as well as a lack of adequate mentoring programs. Women’s leadership journeys are affected by structural, cultural, and individual barriers. To foster the growth of female leaders, organizations should embrace solid gender equity initiative implementation and promote inclusive cultures at the workplace. This study’s results are useful in designing improved pathways of access and minimizing gender-related barriers within the male-dominated sector

This study examines the efficacy of primary school admission policies in ensuring equitable access to education and upholding the right of parental choice. Anchored in the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC, 1989), which affirms every child’s right to non-discriminatory and inclusive education, and the UNESCO Education 2030 Framework for Action, which emphasizes equity and quality education for all, the study investigates how admission policies are implemented in South African primary schools. A qualitative research design was employed, using semi-structured interviews with principals, School Governing Body (SGB) members, and admission committee representatives from two purposively selected primary schools in Free State schools. The study explored how these stakeholders interpret and apply the South African Schools Act (SASA) admission policy, the challenges they encounter, particularly regarding age eligibility and how these policies affect both fairness and parental choice. Findings indicate that limited understanding of the SASA policy among SGB members often results in inconsistent implementation and potential inequities in learner admission. The study recommends targeted capacity-building initiatives, such as workshops and policy orientation sessions, to strengthen policy alignment and uphold the principles of transparency, inclusivity, and the right to education as articulated in national and international frameworks.

This research investigates the influence of project management practices (PMP) on sustainable development among oil-producing villages in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. This study examines the impact of Project Management Practices (PMPs)—including planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation—on the sustainable development (SD) dimensions of the environmental, economic, and social aspects of inhabitants in oil-producing areas within Ilaje LGA, Ondo State. Data were gathered from 154 household heads through structured questionnaires using a survey methodology and analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics, including multiple linear regression. The findings indicated a modest level of PMP, with Mean Index Scores between 2.14 and 2.44, signifying restricted community engagement. The results of the multiple linear regression indicate that the construct and implementation significantly impacted all three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, economic, and social. This indicates that financial benefits are received by the residents of the host community, notwithstanding their limited participation as casual workers during project execution. Nevertheless, oil companies exhibit minimal care for the aspirations of the populace concerning the impact of their projects on the local environment.  The study's geographic limitations restrict generalisability, indicating the necessity for further extensive comparative research. It advises oil companies to use inclusive project management frameworks that improve stakeholder engagement, therefore promoting sustainable socio-economic development and environmental stewardship in host communities

This study was deliberately designed to empirically examine how Artificial Intelligence (AI) enhances supply chain performance within Tanzanian brewery companies, addressing a critical gap between global theoretical potential and local practical realities. Using a mixed-methods, embedded single-case study approach, data were collected from 86 participants at Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL) through questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions. The findings revealed a fragmented yet influential adoption landscape, where tools like predictive analytics and machine learning significantly boosted service quality and certain efficiency measures; however, these benefits were notably limited by organizational resistance, weak data governance, and major external infrastructural barriers. As an original contribution, this study offers fresh, context-specific insights into the socio-technical dynamics of AI adoption in a lesser-studied Tanzanian industrial setting. Practically, managers are urged to prioritize core investments in change management and data integrity, while socially, effective integration can promote market stability and skills growth, contributing to wider socioeconomic progress. In conclusion, the study emphasizes that AI’s transformative promise is not assured by technology alone but depends on strong internal capacity and a supportive external environment. A noted limitation is the single-case focus, which may restrict generalization across other industries. Therefore, it is recommended that firms adopt a phased implementation strategy grounded in solid data governance and pilot projects, while fostering public-private partnerships to address the broader external challenges slowing digital transformation.

Entrepreneurship has become a vital force for economic development and innovation in the 21st century. Higher education institutions are pivotal in preparing students to succeed in this dynamic landscape by nurturing entrepreneurial skills and mindsets. This systematically reviewed the 23 empirical studies from databases between 2014 and 2024 to explore the imperative role of higher education in fostering entrepreneurship. It examines the evolving demands of the global economy, emphasising the need for individuals equipped with the creativity, resilience, and adaptability characteristic of successful entrepreneurs. The research findings highlight the pivotal role of higher education in fostering entrepreneurial skills and mindsets. Key findings include adopting interdisciplinary curriculum design and integrating business, technology, and creative fields to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of entrepreneurship. The findings reveal that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are critical in promoting entrepreneurial skills and mindsets. They can achieve this by driving entrepreneurial growth, providing practical learning opportunities, promoting cross-disciplinary and collaborative learning, and addressing challenges in entrepreneurship education. To fully realise this potential, a comprehensive approach is needed, including changes to the curriculum, development of academics, institutional support, and community involvement. This will enable HEIs to produce competent, knowledgeable graduates who drive innovation and economic development. Experiential learning opportunities such as internships and startup incubators significantly nurture entrepreneurial mindsets by offering real-world experiences and enhancing problem-solving skills. The study emphasises the importance of entrepreneurial ecosystems within higher education institutions, promoting collaboration and innovation through partnerships with various stakeholders.

Traditional herbal medicine remains a vital component of healthcare across Africa, deeply rooted in indigenous cultural beliefs and practices. This systematic review employs the PRISMA framework to analyse regulatory frameworks, cultural significance, and practical challenges related to herbal medicine use in multiple African countries. Findings reveal that nations such as Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda have made notable progress in establishing regulatory agencies and legislative oversight, while others, including Ethiopia, exhibit weaker governance structures. The study highlights the critical role of cultural embeddedness, with traditional medicine addressing holistic health dimensions often absent in biomedical approaches. Despite the accessibility and affordability of herbal remedies, concerns about dosage inconsistencies, contamination, and lack of standardisation persist. Furthermore, uneven institutionalisation and generational knowledge loss threaten sustainability. The review underscores the need for harmonised regulatory standards, preservation of indigenous knowledge, increased research investment, and strengthened collaboration between traditional healers and biomedical practitioners. These measures are essential to safely integrate traditional medicine into formal healthcare systems and support universal health coverage across Africa.

This integrative review explores the relationship between leadership styles, employee resilience, and well-being within modern organizational settings. Based on empirical and theoretical research published between 2015 and 2025, the study consolidates multidisciplinary insights to examine how different leadership approaches impact employee adaptability and psychological health. Leadership styles such as transformational, authentic, and servant leadership are increasingly acknowledged for their effectiveness in fostering resilience and supporting employee well-being, whereas transactional, authoritarian, and laissez-faire leadership tend to be associated with less favorable outcomes. The review integrates perspectives from Leader–Member Exchange (LMX) theory, Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, and the Job Demands–Resources (JD–R) model to provide a comprehensive understanding of how leadership behaviours function as organizational and psychological resources. Through thematic analysis of selected studies, resilience is identified as both a mediator and a moderator in the relationship between leadership and well-being, indicating that resilient employees are better equipped to manage workplace stressors and maintain engagement. Findings suggest that supportive leadership behaviours facilitate resource accumulation, enhance positive employee outcomes, and help mitigate the adverse effects of job demands. Conversely, ineffective leadership styles are linked to diminished trust, increased burnout, and lower organizational commitment. The review emphasizes the importance of developing resilience-focused leadership practices to support sustainable employee well-being and organizational success. It also recommends that organizations incorporate leadership development programs alongside resilience-building initiatives to strengthen psychological resources and adaptive capacities across all levels of the workforce. Future research should focus on longitudinal and cross-cultural studies to enhance understanding of these complex dynamics.

This study’s objectives were to assess the extent the AEO programme contributed to improved customs tax compliance among participating businesses and how the AEO programme has affected trade facilitation in South Africa. A mixed-method research approach was used, combining qualitative and quantitative data from a survey. The sample size was 22, selected through purposive stratified sampling, including 1 tax lecturer from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and 21 middle management employees from the South African tax administrator’s AEO department. Key informants reported that the AEO programme has enhanced compliance rates through the implementation of improvement initiatives, the establishment of partnerships, and support for non-compliant applicants. The AEO programme is a voluntary initiative created by the World Customs Organisation in order to ensure compliance and facilitate trade. The programme enhances trade by offering dedicated support through CRM teams, streamlining business operations, and ensuring the swift release of goods.

The rapid development of immersive technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), presents novel opportunities to enhance tourist experiences and promote sustainable village tourism. This study is particularly significant as Generation Z, as digitally savvy travellers, plays a strategic role in shaping sustainable tourism practices, especially within rural destinations. The research aims to examine the influence of Generation Z’s awareness of immersive technologies on their positive attitudes toward village tourism, visit intentions, and perceptions of the role of immersive technologies in supporting sustainable tourism principles. A quantitative approach was employed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Data were collected through structured questionnaires from 150 Generation Z respondents across various regions who have previously interacted with immersive technologies and plan to visit village tourism destinations. The findings indicate that awareness of immersive technologies significantly enhances positive attitudes toward village tourism, which in turn influences visit intentions and perceptions of immersive technologies’ role in fostering community-oriented sustainable tourism. These results underscore that integrating immersive technologies not only enriches tourist experiences but also supports cultural preservation, local economic empowerment, and sustainable tourism practices. Practically, the findings provide guidance for village tourism managers, policymakers, and stakeholders in designing effective digital strategies to develop community-based sustainable tourism initiatives.

Business Model Innovation (BMI) has been widely recognised by management scholars as a significant approach to analyse complex organisational issues and address challenges in volatile business contexts.  Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operating in highly turbulent business environments struggle to be viable. Hence, the need to adopt appropriate business models to ensure resilient and viability. This study sought to examine the influence of BMIs on the ability of SMEs in developing nations to withstand and recover from challenges posed by unstable business environments. This study uses a quantitative approach, with a cross-sectional survey to collect empirical evidence from 327 SMEs selected through quota sampling.  Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method, results of the study reveal that BMI has a positive impact on the resilience of SMEs. The findings demonstrated that implementing innovative modifications in the business model, namely value creation, value capture, and value proposition positively influence the resilience of SMEs. The study concludes that implementing innovative business models contributes to the development of resilience among SMEs in emerging economies. This paper is relevant to SMEs operating in developing economies as well as those in volatile business environments.

The enrolment of international students continues to intellectually, culturally, and educationally enrich universities across the globe. In South Africa, international students bring vast and valuable experiences, perspectives, and skills to the host institutions. Research shows that besides the above contribution that international students make within the higher institutions of learning in South Africa, they also make significant economic contributions to the host institutions and country through enrolment. But beyond institutionalised practices of support and inclusivity, international students endure invisible academic and social issues that are not spoken about and discussed widely. Although South Africa is one of the African countries with a high number of international students enrolled within the institutions of higher learning, in certain institutions, such students are alienated based on their being considered an ‘outsider.’ This conceptual paper draws its literature from chapter one of the PhD work-in-progress and therefore, examines the tacit challenges that international students face when undergoing independent academic and social support frameworks in university in higher education institutions. The primary aim of this paper is to stimulate scholarly dialogue on best practices and strategic approaches for enhancing the well-being and academic success of international students. Grounded in a review of existing literature, this paper contends that despite the presence of institutional policies and student support initiatives, international students continue to face significant challenges in their academic journeys. These include language barriers, experiences of xenophobia and discrimination, and the complexities of immigration laws and regulations. Furthermore, the paper contributes to the broader discourse on equitable access to higher education through the development of student-centred, culturally responsive, and inclusive support systems. In conclusion, the paper proposes an inclusive support framework for international students, structured around six key components: foundational principles, structural elements, interconnected support networks, academic and career integration, outreach and information delivery, and policy and institutional commitment.

Financial markets are a system of complex price dynamics that are often influenced by various nonlinear factors. Traditional linear models such as Autoregressive Moving Average also known as ARMA and the GARCH model often fail to capture the inherent nonlinearities observed in financial market returns and trading volumes which poses significant problems in modelling financial time series. The aim of this study was to investigates the role of threshold nonlinearity in modelling financial market returns and trading volume. Daily share prices and trading volumes from the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq indices spanning from January 2000 to December 2020 were used as the sample financial markets. The findings revealed that the threshold model improves predictive performance over traditional linear models, highlighting the importance of incorporating nonlinearity for understanding the dynamics of financial markets. A threshold autoregressive model was proposed to account for sudden shifts in market conditions and nonlinear dependencies between returns and trading volumes.