International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science

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.

Functional foods are foods that improve mental and physical well-being. Consumption of functional food has attracted much interest globally based on its benefit in the prevention of life-threatening diseases such as obesity, stroke, heart attack, diabetes, and cancer. Notwithstanding the health importance of functional food consumption, research on the marketing of functional foods is sparse in the literature. The research seeks to evaluate consumers purchase behaviour toward functional foods. The research employed a quantitative method. A consumer survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire on a sample of 384 consumers at several grocery stores in the uMhlathuze region, South Africa. The findings demonstrate the significance of understanding consumer motivations and attitudes in enabling food producers to implement the best marketing strategy to increase sales as well as enabling dietitians and medical professionals to share information and create more awareness regarding the health benefits of consuming functional foods. Likewise, the findings showed a significant positive correlation between social factors and age. This indicated that as people increase in age, social factors have more impact on their purchase decisions toward functional foods.

In South Africa, the educational landscape is characterised by constant evolution and dynamic classroom changes, driven by technological advancements, diverse student populations, and evolving pedagogical approaches. Pre-service teachers are crucial in navigating these changes and fostering effective learning environments. This systematic literature analysis explores the relevance of curriculum for pre-service teachers in addressing the challenges posed by dynamic classroom contexts in South Africa. Drawing upon a comprehensive review of existing literature, this study examines the alignment between pre-service teacher education curricula and the evolving needs of classrooms in South Africa. Key themes explored include integrating technology, cultural responsiveness, inclusive education practices, and pedagogical flexibility. The analysis also considers the efficacy of current pre-service teacher training programmes in preparing teachers to meet the diverse needs of students in dynamic classroom settings. Furthermore, the study investigates the perceptions and experiences of pre-service teachers regarding the adequacy of their curriculum in equipping them for the realities of South African classrooms. By synthesising findings from various sources, this research aims to inform curriculum development efforts and enhance the preparation of pre-service teachers for the multifaceted challenges of teaching in South African schools.

Local Economic Development strategies were formulated in response to the stipulations made by the national government of South Africa. The national mandate placed the responsibility on the local sphere of government to promote economic progression from a grassroots level and to contribute to developmental activities within the state. The National Framework LED has been created as a basis for the effective practice of LED in terms of implementation. This paper focused mainly on evaluating the effectiveness of Local Economic Development strategies in uMhlathuze Local Municipality within Empangeni town. This paper and its problem were developed by the researcher due to the growing unemployment rate in South Africa which mostly affects young people, more especially at the municipal level. The researcher was convinced to evaluate how the economic development strategies or initiatives addressing the issue of unemployment and assisting economic development within the uMhlathuze Local Municipality, intending to come up with mechanisms that may be put at hand to ensure the effectiveness of these strategies provided to address economic issues with the municipality. This paper employed qualitative methods to collect and analyze data. Qualitative data were collected from community members and staff of the municipality within the Department of Economic Development through the use of questionnaires. The analysis of qualitative data was done through thematic analysis. The findings of the research revealed that there is a communication breakdown between the community and the municipality to enable the community to use the opportunities for economic development. This paper recommends that the municipality needs to develop/advance communication methods to ensure that the community is informed and aware of the development opportunities that are provided by the community.

Sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship have emerged as pivotal drivers of positive change in today's dynamic world, where environmental, social, and economic challenges intersect. This paper explores the nexus between sustainable innovation, entrepreneurship, and societal impact, examining the evolution, principles, and case studies that exemplify the transformative potential of sustainable ventures. Through an analysis of leading exemplars across industries, including Tesla, Patagonia, and Unilever, key lessons learned and best practices are identified, highlighting the importance of stakeholder collaboration, transparency, and long-term commitment to sustainability. Moreover, the paper assesses the impact of sustainable innovation on society, emphasizing economic growth, environmental conservation, and social equity as critical outcomes. Looking ahead, emerging trends in sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship present opportunities for future ventures, yet challenges such as regulatory complexity and resource scarcity must be addressed. Recommendations for encouraging a culture of sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship globally include promoting collaboration, incentivizing sustainable practices, and investing in education and research. By embracing sustainability as a guiding principle, businesses can drive positive change, foster innovation, and contribute to a more resilient, equitable, and environmentally sustainable future.

Sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship have emerged as pivotal drivers of positive change in today's dynamic world, where environmental, social, and economic challenges intersect. This paper explores the nexus between sustainable innovation, entrepreneurship, and societal impact, examining the evolution, principles, and case studies that exemplify the transformative potential of sustainable ventures. Through an analysis of leading exemplars across industries, including Tesla, Patagonia, and Unilever, key lessons learned and best practices are identified, highlighting the importance of stakeholder collaboration, transparency, and long-term commitment to sustainability. Moreover, the paper assesses the impact of sustainable innovation on society, emphasizing economic growth, environmental conservation, and social equity as critical outcomes. Looking ahead, emerging trends in sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship present opportunities for future ventures, yet challenges such as regulatory complexity and resource scarcity must be addressed. Recommendations for encouraging a culture of sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship globally include promoting collaboration, incentivizing sustainable practices, and investing in education and research. By embracing sustainability as a guiding principle, businesses can drive positive change, foster innovation, and contribute to a more resilient, equitable, and environmentally sustainable future.

Previous studies indicate the adverse effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on entrepreneurship sustainability and socio-economic development. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic caused an economic crisis in global economies. This study acknowledged that entrepreneurship is a crucial component to consider in mitigating the aftereffects of the pandemic on economies and their recovery. The study examines the characteristics that encourage the survival of entrepreneurship in the COVID-19 pandemic environment and investigates the link between entrepreneurship and long-term development. The study evaluated the relevant literature to validate the correlations between the key variables to accomplish this goal. Given the setting of the Coronavirus pandemic, the study determines what the future of entrepreneurship will look like. The study is interested in knowing what path the entrepreneurs will choose regarding recovery. The method used to perform this study was a judgemental survey on the future trends in entrepreneurship. According to the findings, the top three positions are freelancing, internet and innovative entrepreneurship, and business globalisation, which will follow the trend in entrepreneurship. The practical implications of this research support entrepreneurs in their pursuit of new business trends.

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.

The South African entrepreneurial sector is essential to the country's economic growth, job creation, and innovation. South African entrepreneurs encounter competitive business environment, limited resources, and socioeconomic gaps. Building resilience is critical for them to overcome challenges, adapt to change, and sustain their businesses in the face of adversity.  This paper aims to explore the connection between resilience and emotional intelligence in the context of South African entrepreneurship. A systematic literature review and text analysis was carried out. This systematic literature analysis analysed 37 peer-reviewed sources that explored the impact of emotional intelligence on resilience in the South African entrepreneurial sector. Textual analysis was used to discover themes, patterns, and implications for increasing entrepreneurial resilience. Inclusion criteria included English-language research published during the last decade that focused on emotional intelligence and resilience in entrepreneurship. Non-peer-reviewed papers, grey literature, and those that did not directly address the South African context were excluded.  Key findings show that emotionally intelligent leaders are better able to manage stress, build trusted relationships, and adjust to changing circumstances, which improves corporate results and ensures sustainability in a changing economic climate. This paper concludes that emotional intelligence is critical in determining the resilience and success of entrepreneurs in the South African entrepreneurial sector. Recommendations stemming from the results encompass integrating emotional intelligence training courses into entrepreneurial curricula, cultivating a nurturing and emotionally astute workplace, and encouraging self-awareness and emotional regulation proficiencies among prospective and established entrepreneurs in South Africa.

This study's objective was to investigate the relationship amongst the local government employees and their performances towards the distribution of services. Many employees face different challenges in their workplaces, however in a situation like service delivery it’s important for employees to be able to work well together and have a positive relationship amongst each other and avoid political conflict that may end up affecting the citizens as they are their priority. The researcher acknowledges that there are many challenges faced by local government which affect the effective service delivery, these include toxic work relationships among employees, corruption and mismanagement of funds, red tape etc. The study was based on the current legal, theoretical and conceptual perspective that applies to the protocol of the working relationship amongst employees and service provision. Diverse perspectives were used to determine whether the employees of UMhlathuze Local Municipality have the positive relationship amongst each other without the interference of the political conflict, also for the community members under UMhlathuze Local Municipality to have a voice on whether the employees are distributing services rightfully or not. This study has adopted qualitative methods for getting in-depth and interactive information from the participants. The recommendations are also made for UMhlathuze Municipality, including the theoretical framework of service delivery and the working protocol of employees within an organization.