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There is a disconnect between corporate communication and employee engagement which often leads to poor organizational culture and ultimately poor performance. Therefore, the study aims to address this phenomenon and connect corporate communication to employee engagement for organisational success. Organizations are aware of the indisputable connection between their success and employee engagement in the current competitive environment. With a qualitative method using an interpretivism research paradigm, this study explores how corporate communication at Bakoena Services Pty Ltd. promotes employee engagement. Senior, middle, and junior staff members provide detailed perspectives. The study used semi-structured interviews to investigate how employees feel about the channels of communication that are currently in place, as well as how effective they are perceived to be and how they affect engagement. It also looked at tactics and planned communication enhancements that Bakoena Services Pty Ltd. might use to encourage employee engagement. This study added to our knowledge of the complex interplay within a particular organizational setting between corporate communication and employee engagement as well as made contributions theoretically to the stakeholder theory which underpinned the study. The conclusions provided Bakoena Services Pty Ltd. with insightful information about modifying its communication strategies to foster a workforce that is more engaged, content, and eventually more productive. The study's findings give suggestions for enhancement as well as insight into the role of corporate communication in promoting employee engagement at Bakoena Services Pty Ltd. The study's main recommendation is to strengthen the role of human resources, which is crucial in addition to communication reform. The study also concludes that human resource staff members ought to be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in communication, engagement strategies, feedback management, and leadership development.

This study presents a systematic literature review analysing the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on higher education, focusing on its methods, results, and implications. By synthesising a diverse range of academic papers, the review explores how AI technologies influence educational standards and practices in higher education institutions. Findings reveal that AI has the potential to enhance the quality of higher education by diversifying teaching responsibilities, customising learning experiences, and employing intelligent, adaptive teaching strategies. These capabilities position AI as a transformative tool for improving educational delivery and outcomes. However, the study also highlights significant challenges associated with integrating AI into higher education. These challenges include delineating the appropriate scope of AI use, addressing inequalities in access to digital resources, and ensuring adequate training and support for educators and students. The review underscores the importance of understanding these complexities to guide the development of effective strategies and policies that optimise AI's potential while mitigating its limitations. The review offers critical insights into the dual role of AI in higher education, where it can either advance or hinder educational standards depending on how it is implemented. By examining the advantages, limitations, and broader consequences of AI-powered instructional tools, this study provides a comprehensive perspective on the intricate relationship between AI and educational quality. The findings aim to inform educators, policymakers, and stakeholders about the opportunities and challenges of adopting AI in higher education, contributing to the development of inclusive, innovative, and sustainable educational practices.

This study reflects on the researchers’ experiences who conducted research in an open distance and eLearning (ODeL) institution with external supervisors of mathematics education pre-service teachers teaching practice. Despite the value placed on research in an open distance and eLearning environment, some researchers still have trouble accessing data when using the online web-based survey approach to conduct research, especially among supervisors of Mathematics education pre-service teachers' teaching practice (TP) exercise at a typical ODeL institution in South Africa. This insider research is born out of the fact that there is less research conducted in South Africa, that ascertains the experiences of researchers themselves on a project. In light of the foregoing, this study attempts to reflect on the experiences and challenges faced by researchers at the University of South Africa while working on a project that was centered on the supervision of pre-service teachers' teaching practice in a mathematics classroom context titled ODL-RSP Project. The study used a reflective method involving the observations and experiences kept by researchers to record detailed notes during initiation, data collection (interview process) and workshop attendance by the researchers. The reflection involved research team members focusing on the Quality of Mathematics Teaching Practice Supervision in the ODeL Environment. The analysis of the data was derived from the reflections. The study used a reflective method involving the observations and experiences kept by researchers to record detailed notes during initiation, data collection (interview process) and workshop attendance by the researchers. The reflection involved research team members focusing on the Quality of Mathematics Teaching Practice Supervision in the ODeL Environment. The analysis of the data was derived from the reflections.

Social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube continue to provide higher education lecturers with the opportunity to share personal and academic resources. They use these platforms to communicate with colleagues and students for educational purposes. This study was motivated by the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has made online learning a priority for higher education institutions, and lecturers in South Africa have had to rethink the adoption of social media platforms as learning tools. Although social media platforms were used before the COVID-19 pandemic, on a small scale, this study investigated the readiness and challenges of lecturers in adopting social media platforms as a teaching and learning tool during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. This study collected qualitative data from individual lecturers using a purposeful sampling technique. The findings of the study indicate that lecturers are ready to adopt social media as a teaching and learning tool during the covid 19 pandemic. WhatsApp is the most used social media platform for teaching and learning. This study also identified some benefits and challenges in adopting social media platforms for teaching and learning in higher education institutions (HEIs), however, in practicality these challenges should be explored and addressed before rolling out social media usage in HEI’s. Based on the findings, the study provides recommendations on the use of social media platforms in teaching and learning in HEI’s during pandemics, as well as future research on social media use to assist in teaching and learning in HEI’s.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the importance of Teacher Professional Development in the implementation of online teaching as a tool for distance learning since the onset of COVID- 19. Before the outburst of the coronavirus pandemic, lecturers were used to face-to-face contact sessions, and most of the students did not have laptops. So, the distressing experience of COVID-19 has catalyzed the need for continuing professional teacher development. The study employed the theory of reasoned behavior and the theory of planned behaviour. The theory of reasoned action aims to explain the relationship between attitudes and behaviours within human action. It is used to predict how individuals will behave based on their pre-existing attitudes and behavioural intentions. The latter includes behavioural control as an additional determinant of intentions and behaviour. The study adopted qualitative methodology and employed the case study. The data was collected through interviews with four university lecturers, who were chosen through purposive sampling technique. The data revealed that most teachers perceived online teaching as a good intervention during the period of COVID- 19. However, teachers lacked training and experience when it comes to online teaching. This resulted in lot of uncertainty when it came to online teaching, and frustration for older teachers. In conclusion, the paper highlighted the need for teacher development in the form of in-service training and suggested that teachers should register for short courses on online learning, implementing mentorship programs by the tertiary institutions.

South African government statistics have indicated that throughput rates for university students remain low with only 31% of students at public universities completing their degree qualifications in the shortest possible time. Students entering public universities from the high school level are often inadequately prepared for the challenges of a rigorous degree course in accounting. It was found in extant literature, that with a modified, tutor-intensive face-to-face teaching approach, accounting pass rates could be significantly improved. However, online teaching has become more prevalent in South African universities with a gradual shift towards blended teaching. The objective of the study was to develop a teaching approach based on sound principles as proven in past studies, but with due consideration for online teaching implementation. The study adopted a research approach/methodology comprising a systematic literature review and focus group designs; thematic content analysis facilitated the development of the online teaching approach. This approach then presented 4 core activities and 29 specific activities. The findings showed a large emphasis on pre-semester activities as well as support activities. The teaching approach can potentially be adapted for rural and public universities to potentially improve accounting throughput rates.

The purpose of this study is to explore the concept of change management, and employee engagement as a possible organisational turnaround strategy. This is owing to Organisations exist to deliver their strategic goal and objectives, this would amongst others ensure both technical and tactical strategical success. When organisations strategy is in shape there is a high rate of employee retention and recruitment of the best talent in the market. However, the organisations always faces a conundrum of having to tap in their organisational turnaround strategy which in most cases is marred with resistance from the employees. This study seeks to establish the extent to which change management and employee engagement can be adopted as key organisational turnaround strategy. The study adopts an interpretive qualitative design, and thematic analysis to organize dataset into relevant themes. Study recommends employer consultation and employee participation, facilitation, negotiation and agreement, and manipulation and coercion as a blended approach to effective organizational turnaround strategy. The value of the study is how a simultaneous use of change management and employee engagement can be used by global organizations for effective turnaround strategies.

The contributions of entrepreneurs to wellbeing have been recognised in both industrialised and non-industrialised nations for engaging in solving socio-economic issues. In both economies, financial knowledge seems to be a significant instrument for assisting entrepreneurs, especially women, and other latent entrepreneurs to attain access to finance and reinforce money management skills. However, there is a lack of commitment to understand challenges affecting women’s economic activities. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of financial knowledge on the economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This study utilised a quantitative research design rooted in positivism philosophy. The study focused on surveying 500 women entrepreneurs including refugees and migrants, ultimately receiving responses from 400 participants. Respondents were selected using convenience quota sampling technique who are operating in the Durban Metropolitan areas. A Likert Scale model has been used in the quantitative questions and respondents had to select answers to the close-ended questions. With the help of 10% of the participants who served as pilot respondents and research professionals in the area of entrepreneurship, the instrument was updated and modified. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0 was used to cross-check, clean, code, and analyze data collected from the target population. The findings show that entrepreneurial activities empower women economically, poor business skills such as insufficient financial literacy skills, access to finance, education and training hinder their economic development. Recognising the valuable contribution of women entrepreneurs to socioeconomic growth, it is essential to implement policies that promote financial literacy among female business owners. This contributes to the sustainability of women-led small and medium-sized enterprises, enhances their empowerment, and promotes economic growth.

This paper examines the challenges facing the provision of low-cost housing conundrum, with specific reference to the Eastern Cape Province. The paper will further explore policy alternatives to the idea of low-cost housing scheme delivery over time with a view to improving delivery of low-cost housing inquest for integrated sustainable communities in the province. Against the above stated background, the aim of this paper is to investigate challenges facing the provision of low-cost housing on the people of Eastern Cape Province.  The guiding research question of this paper is: what is the efficacy way of implementing integrated low-cost housing strategy in addressing the problem of affordable housing shortage for the poor in the Province through the Integrated Human Settlement Plan? This papers setting is in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A mixed method approach is employed to explore and describe the complexities at play in the policy tensions conundrum in the Eastern Cape Province. The findings of this paper suggest that the goal and vision of Integrated Human Settlement Plan should be consistently communicated in clear simple terms to all affected, especially the rural poor communities as they are most affected by the provision of low-cost housing provision. This article contributes to the scholarship of Public Administration and Development Management of resources surrounding the ongoing debate on the implementation of Integrated Human Settlement programme’s and government interventions that are targeted at low income and poor communities in South Africa with regard to transformation, development and policy implementation. The main argument of this paper is that with an adequate policy execution of the government’s development agenda we can improve service delivery as well as integrated human settlement that brings human dignity to the province of the Eastern Cape.

The study evaluates the role that upward communication plays in enhancing effective communication. It is however vital for petroleum retail service stations, and the petroleum industry as a whole to prevent the occurrence of accidents and to ensure safety. Upward communication in an organisation underline the significance of employee feedback in improving organisational performance and shaping decision-making.  It promotes a culture of transparency and trust, encouraging employees to share suggestions, ideas, and concerns with management. The study is conducted in the petroleum sector and focuses on the selected petroleum retail service stations in South Africa. The study adopted a quantitative approach to address the objectives and prove the hypothesis. The data was collected from 740 retail service station employees in South Africa. The data collection method that was utilised for the study was closed-ended questionnaires that were personally administered. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS 25) and includes both inferential and descriptive statistics. The result of the study proves that there is a relationship between upward communication and effective communication in the South African petroleum sector. The manner in which top-level employees communicate impacts on how effective communication is in sites. The conclusion drawn from the study have shown that upward communication have a positive and significant association with effective communication. The study recommends that there should be various options for communication media, also accommodating technological advances. The study also recommends the creation of an open communication environment where barriers to communication are minimised. This be in need of accessible feedback, manager training, clear communication in the daily operation to promote continuous improvement, transparency, and trust.  

Artificial intelligence has become an integral part of higher education, significantly transforming the landscape of higher education. This study aims to identify, analyse and visualise peer-reviewed academic research output on artificial intelligence (AI) and graduate attributes in higher education. Data was gathered from the Scopus database over a decade (2014-2024), with search terms related to artificial intelligence, graduate attributes, and higher education. Following the PRISMA method guidelines, 106 articles were deemed necessary for review. Bibliometric methods, content and thematic analysis were used to identify main themes, and VoSviewer software was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed research productivity, citation overview, the main subjects, the territory of the leading researchers, thematic choices and future research opportunities and directions. Themes such as the impacts of AI on graduate attributes emerged, which may assist policymakers, educational institutions, teachers and students in their strategies and choices for adopting and using AI. The study recognised research trends, provided insights into the current state of AI and higher education research, and identified potential gaps in the literature on the research landscape of AI, graduate attributes, and higher education. The study can guide future researchers on emerging thematic opportunities.

Since today’s market is highly competitive and constantly evolving, organisations are striving to achieve high levels of productivity and low levels of turnover. One of the key factors in achieving this goal is organisational commitment. Thus, the study advocates that the level of employee commitment and willingness to continue working with the organisation is reflected in their intention to stay. Based on the theory of reasoned action, this study aims to investigate how the dimensions of employee commitment influence their decision to stay with the organisation in the long term within a telecommunication company. The study adopted a postpositivist perspective, a descriptive approach, a quantitative research method and a structured questionnaire to collect numerical data. In addition, descriptive, factor, correlation and regression analyses were performed through SPSS version 26.0. The study population consisted of 470 employees working in different departments, ranging from entry-level positions to consulting engineers. A sample of 298 employees was selected through a simple random sampling to minimise bias. Regression results indicated a moderate positive relationship between organisational commitment and intention to stay. The study recommends organisations to prioritise strategies that promote and sustain organisational commitment for improved intention-to-stay outcomes. This can be achieved through various means such as providing opportunities for professional development, recognising and rewarding employee contributions, and promoting open communication.

Teenage pregnancy is a pressing issue in South Africa, particularly in high schools, with one reporting 19 pregnancies in the first half of the 2024 academic year. This article explores the complex factors contributing to high rates of teenage pregnancy, including poverty, the child grant system, parental influence, promiscuity, and the exploitation of young girls by adult predators. Through a comprehensive literature review and analysis of local data, the article highlights the socio-economic, cultural, and environmental drivers of teenage pregnancy. Findings indicate that economic hardship compels young girls into transactional sex or relationships with older men, while the child grant may inadvertently incentivize early pregnancies. Furthermore, cultural norms and a culture of impunity exacerbate the issue, with many pregnancies fathered by adult men who exploit vulnerable girls.The article calls for a multimodal approach to address teenage pregnancy, emphasizing poverty alleviation, parental education, community engagement, and access to comprehensive sex education and reproductive health services. By addressing these root causes, it is possible to reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancies and support the empowerment and future success of young girls in South Africa. The findings highlight the urgency of coordinated efforts to provide sustainable solutions that can interrupt the cycle of poverty and early pregnancy, ensuring a healthier and a brighter future for South African youth.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of cultural forces that shape social influence with a look at Hofstede’s cultural dimensions of power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and individualism. The direct effect of these cultural dimensions on social influence is investigated. To measure social influence, this paper relies on the dimensions of Hofstede. A multiple regression analysis is applied to answer the hypotheses. The research design adopted for the research was quantitative, and the method used to collect data was an online survey. A self-administered questionnaire was developed and distributed to the targeted respondents for obtaining primary data.The respondents involved were 340 SMEs in the urban area of Harare province in Zimbabwe. A nonprobability convenience sampling method was used for the study. Hofstede’s cultural factors of power distance, individualism, and uncertainty avoidance were used as the independent variables that moderate social influence.

The study sought to examine the obstacles encountered in the teaching and learning of Accounting in the Vhembe East District, Limpopo Province. A qualitative methodology was employed, utilising interview schedules to gather data from six (6) topic advisors, six (6) principals, and six (6) heads of departments. The data was synthesised in accordance with the primary research objectives, revealing that EMS, a fundamental component of accounting in Grades 8 and 9 (Senior Phase), is instructed by educators lacking pedagogical subject understanding in Accounting. Several topic advisers and educators lack specialisation in Accounting, resulting in deficiencies in professional development for these Accounting instructors. Accounting is discontinued without parental involvement. School principals do not endorse the advancement of accounting education. The report advises that the Department of Basic Education should address the issue of unqualified instructors in grades 7-9. Specialist accounting educators and subject consultants must furnish instructors with content and pedagogical expertise to facilitate the proper implementation of the accounting curriculum. Subject advisers, principals, and departmental heads should promote the use of contemporary teaching practices that facilitate collaborative learning among students in small groups to comprehend accounting topics.

Contact centre operations are essential for providing customer support and managing client enquiries. A contact centre, akin to any other business, necessitates numerous essential components. A significant number of these components directly influence the business. Recognising and improving these elements can assist a contact centre in achieving its overarching objectives. The report seeks to analyse the essential elements that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of contact centre operations. The emphasis is on technology, personnel, and processes as the essential elements that enhance the efficient and effective operation of contact centres. The efficacy and efficiency of a contact centre environment encompass personnel, procedures, and technology across all organisational levels. These components must not be considered in isolation, as they influence the success or failure of a contact centre environment. Consequently, comprehending the interaction between these components is of paramount importance.Quantitative data were evaluated with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The convenience sample approach was deemed suitable for sampling contact centre agents, team leaders, and managers at the Department of Home Affairs. The study's principal findings indicate that both the literature research and the results highlighted the significance of components in facilitating the functioning and performance of contact centre operations. The data corroborate the idea that numerous contact centre failures stem from the absence of essential components necessary for its operation. The inclusion of suitable components in the contact centre has revolutionised management's oversight of these facilities. The analysis indicates that an effective team inside the company facilitates the management of contact centres. The report advocates for the implementation of integrated technological solutions to expedite customer interactions and improve operational efficiency in contact centres. It is advisable to invest in frequent employee training to ensure that staff are equipped to handle complex enquiries and effectively utilise advanced systems. Optimised process enhancement initiatives, including workflow simplification and decrease of call handling duration, are deemed essential for augmenting functionality.

This study was inspired by the observation that code-switching is often discouraged in foreign language schools, where the target language and native language are strictly separated, with the target language designated as the 'official' language of instruction. The study sought to examine instances of code-switching in English as a First Additional Language (EFAL) acquisition among Sesotho native speakers in the Intermediate Phase in South Africa. Furthermore, it sought to illustrate the application of tag-code-switching, inter-sentential code-switching, and intra-sentential code-switching in English First Additional Language (EFAL) education for Sesotho native speakers in the Intermediate Phase in South Africa. This paper studied a particular multilingual phenomena, code-switching. While other linguistic behaviours exist, code-switching is the most popular in additional language contexts in South Africa. This research was founded on a literature review of code-switching in additional language situations. The paper examined the three roles of code-switching: repetition, emotional, and floor-holding. It also provided instances of how tag-code-switching, inter-sentential code-switching, and intra-sentential code-switching might be utilised by Sesotho home language learners to improve their comprehension of EFAL. One finding of the study is that, similar to translanguaging, code-switching fosters a sense of belonging and ownership among learners, and it is generally more accessible for the EFAL student to acquire knowledge from familiar concepts to unfamiliar ones. Another conclusion is that learners' restricted engagement in academic activities, attributable to their inadequate language proficiency, also impacts their motivation. The study advocates for the implementation of code-switching to improve learners' classroom involvement by allowing them to utilise their native language in the acquisition of a second language. The impact of code-switching on Sesotho home language learners' comprehension of EFAL in the Intermediate Phase in South Africa remains undetermined, necessitating further investigation into this important issue.

This paper aims to examine the impact of export diversification on business formation in Africa. The study used a panel dataset comprising 10 African countries (Algeria, Gabon, Lesotho, Morocco, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia) observed annually from 2008 to 2018. The model was estimated using an instrumental variable regression approach within a count data framework and the difference-in-difference method. Main findings of the study demonstrate that (i) export diversification facilitates the formation of new businesses in the sampled countries, (ii) the odds of a business start-up increase by 1.7 – 3.5 times in response to a percentage point increase in export diversification, and finally (iii) business start-ups are at least 95 percent higher in countries with high export diversification compared to countries with narrow export baskets. These findings emphasize the need for policies aimed at moving away from concentrated export baskets towards more diversified ones to leverage entrepreneurial effort in the selected African countries.

The focus of this study was to examine the mediating effects of operational efficiency on the relationship between budgeting practices (budget planning and budget participation) and financial performance among 3D printing SMMEs in South Africa. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the study. The stratified sampling technique was used to select 3D printing SMMEs in South Africa. A total of two hundred and fifty (250) managers and employees of 3D printing SMMEs formed the sample size of the study. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software versions 26 and Smart PLS 4 were used to analyze the data gathered. PLS-Structural Equation Modelling was used to test the hypothesis for both direct and mediation effects. The results indicate that a significant negative relationship exists between budget planning and financial performance, as well as budget participation and financial performance. Significant positive relationships were found to exist between the following variables: budget planning and operational efficiency, budget participation and operational efficiency, and operational efficiency and financial performance. Operational efficiency was found to mediate the relationship between budget planning and financial performance as well as budget participation and financial performance. The results imply that the implementation of budgeting practices such as budget planning and budget participation in 3D printing SMME is not enough to achieve financial performance unless operational efficiency is given the utmost attention in 3D printing SMMEs in South Africa.

The adoption and use of ICT have increased drastically in developed countries, but it cannot be said that it lags in developing countries. ICT evolution has introduced e-commerce services for users, but these services fail because of low user acceptance and user attitude, especially in developing nations. The security and trustworthiness of e-commerce are known to be of the most significant concern to people intending to use e-commerce services.  The study looked at the role of individual characteristics on how cyber-security and trust issues affect non-users of e-commerce systems' intention to use e-commerce systems in South Africa.  The effect of cyber security on consumers’ intentions and actual use of e-commerce systems was examined. This study used a quantitative research approach. The findings revealed that perceived security and perceived trust was the primary concern for non-users of e-commerce intentions. It was shown that e-commerce system users are still concerned about security, even though they intend to continue using e-commerce systems. For the success of e-commerce in rural communities, the government needs to join with retailers and SMEs to start awareness campaigns that will clarify how e-commerce systems work and eradicate negative perceptions of e-commerce systems.