University of South Africa | National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS)

Support services for students with disabilities at the University of South Africa (UNISA): the views of students and support staff

South African higher education institutions (HEIs) are working towards transforming the education system that was exclusionary to previously disadvantaged groups, such as students with disabilities.

Data interoperability of health information systems in public hospitals in Gauteng province of South Africa

There is a great demand for data interoperability in the healthcare industry as a result of broader and longer-standing changes, but long-standing obstacles have also been hindering this trend. It is undeniable that healthcare providers are struggling to embracing interoperability because they are trapped in silos within a plethora of disparate systems of health information.

Challenges and opportunities for coal communities in a just transition: towards a transition underpinned by environmental justice

To respond to the global crisis caused by climate change, South Africa is embarking on a Just Transition towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. The transition is premised on a decarbonisation process undertaken through a Just Energy Transition (JET). At the core of this study lies the following question: what are the opportunities and challenges for coal communities in a Just Transition?

Construction of family by adult children from families with absent fathers: guidelines informing social work practice

The legacy of father absence impacts the functioning and well-being of adult children in various ways. One fundamental pathway through which father absence affects adult children is through establishing and enacting their families.

A Detailed Analysis of the African National Congress (ANC) Land Policy, 1955-2017

There is limited scholarly attention on the ANC land policy from 1955 to 2017 and how the ANC land policy shifts coupled with lack of commitment exacerbated Black landlessness. In addition, there is dearth of scholarship on how the slow pace of the ANC land reform programme affects the marginalised groups such as the Khoisan, women, youth and the poor Black majority. Using the voices of the marginalised people and the available secondary sources, this study sought to fill in this identified gap.

Managing environmental education curriculum through distributed leadership strategies in the KwaZulu-Natal secondary schools

Environmental education is a process that allows individuals to explore environmental issues, engage in problem-solving and take action to improve the environment. As a result, individuals develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and have the skills to make informed and responsible decisions through environmental education. Therefore, environmental education is an important aspect of the school curriculum as it is embedded in the school’s curriculum of other subjects.

African, lesbian, and married: the experiences of a black South African couple

Although South Africa has factored the rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community into its constitution, this does not necessarily guarantee that those who engage in same-sex relationships enjoy these rights in practice. South African lesbian sexuality is often suppressed and silenced. This is partly due to the fact that discourses position people in power relations. Dominant sexuality discourses in Africa privilege Black African heterosexuals.

The naming of security companies in South Africa from the Northern Sotho perspective

‘Naming’ is a common term among people. In this study, the importance of naming businesses, especially security company names, is shown. The idea of considering the meaning of a name is vital. If a given name has a positive meaning, it will be regarded as a good name.

The effect of psychosocial factors on the academic persistence of undergraduate university students

The high dropout rate of undergraduate students in institutions of higher learning continues to be a concern for the higher education sector globally. Although university dropout has been studied over the years, little attention has been paid to the psychosocial factors that predict university dropout.

A practice-based and practice-led study on the impact of art fairs in promoting grassroots visual artists in south Africa from 2015 to 2017

n the global art market, art fairs have become very popular art events. This thesis examines whether and how major art fairs in South Africa empower visual artists at the grassroots level. The study used practice-based and practice-led strategies as additional units of analysis to argue that by expanding partnerships and participation networks at South African major art fairs, (namely: the FNB Joburg Art Fair, Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Turbine Art Fair, and Art Africa Fair), socioeconomic inclusion of grassroots artists can be achieved.

University of South Africa