Research productivity is one of the core functions of a university and it plays a crucial role fo... more Research productivity is one of the core functions of a university and it plays a crucial role for a nation to develop and find its standing in our global world. This study examined the effect of ICT adoption and training on the research productivity of university academics. The study was conducted at four public universities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, whilst the part of the study on ICT training was conducted at one of the four universities. This study was conducted both in the form of a survey of 103 university academics and in the form of experimental sessions, where the use of ICT (EndNote, NVivo, AMOS, SPSS, and Turnitin) with training was used for research, the use of ICT without training was used for research and, finally, a session where a manual system (without using research software/tools and training) was used for research. The final results of the research revealed that the use of ICT tools (EndNote, NVivo, AMOS, SPSS, and Turnitin) with training increases research productivity as compared to using ICT tools without training, and/ or using a manual system (without using research software/ tools and training). A statistically proven model is recommended with a view to increase research productivity of academics.
African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, Jul 4, 2017
The commercialization of higher education institutions’ (HEIs’) research within the South African... more The commercialization of higher education institutions’ (HEIs’) research within the South African National System of Innovation (NSI) has received prominence in the post-apartheid era. Intra-African NSI dialogue to draw out context-specific and generic country experiences that could inform policy developments, and initiate and accelerate strengthening of research commercialization is important. However, there is a lack of data for a comprehensive and informed overview of the role of HEIs in commercialization of research and the main challenges they face. This paper intends to propose a more comprehensive platform for promoting, building, and managing commercialization of research. This mixed-method research confirmed that South African HEIs combine education, research and community engagement, but their base needs to be strengthened for research commercialization to occur. Findings identified that HEIs’ commercialization of research is constrained by lack of commercialization skills and low numbers of qualified staff, brain drain, aging of faculty, absence of intellectual property (IP) policy measures, and focus on lecturing rather than research-focused mandates. Proposed strategies to improve research commercialization should include development and implementation of fair IP policies and guidelines, bolstering of human and organizational capabilities at HEIs and research institutes, and strengthening periodic reviewing by the National Intellectual Property Management Office.
This paper presents a model regarding Information and Communication Technology (ICT) (SPSS, AMOS,... more This paper presents a model regarding Information and Communication Technology (ICT) (SPSS, AMOS, Turnitin, EndNote and NVivo) with training to increase the research productivity of university academics. This aim was achieved by examining academic staff (ICT uses with training) to increase research productivity and the study was experimental and conducted at a public university in South Africa. The target population for the experiment consisted of academic staff from a university. The questionnaire was used based on two the theoretical frameworks, namely Technology Acceptance Model and Training Needs Assessment Model. The data were analyzed using WarpPLS 4.0 software. The main results of this study are a model, derived from the experiment and it has a high significant impact ( ) on research productivity. In this regard, universities need to formulate strategies on ICT with training for researchers to use each software package in relation to improve their research productivity
PONTE International Scientific Researchs Journal, 2017
The use of mobile devices in learning has gained popularity among schools around the world. The p... more The use of mobile devices in learning has gained popularity among schools around the world. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the possibility of mobile devices being used to improve student academic performance in a developing country, Botswana. The research design for this study was a descriptive and interpretive study that was analysed quantitatively. Questionnaires and interviews were also used to evaluate students' perceptions and to determine their level of understanding with the use of mobile devices. The sample for the study was four classes of form four and form five students. The findings point out that many students have access to mobile devices with different applications of their preference. If given the opportunity, these devices can be used to enhance learning in general which can bring about change in academic performance. The findings led to the conclusion that, indeed mobile devices can play a vital role in the education of developing countries and bring about a change in academic learning.
Learning management systems (LMSs) are an important component of most universities. However, in s... more Learning management systems (LMSs) are an important component of most universities. However, in some universities there are clusters of faculty who do not make use of LMSs. An LMS is a component of technology - a driver for enhanced learning and teaching. This study investigated the dominant faculty attitudes towards integration of an LMS into teaching and learning, since successful implementation of an LMS in an institution starts with instructors/lecturers embracing the system, which in turn initiates and promotes students' use of an LMS. Faculty perceptions of an LMS and factors or constructs that may influence their use or intention to use one were explored. An online survey questionnaire was sent to all faculty members within a faculty that services teacher education within the university. A quantitative approach was employed, using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. Descriptive and inferential statistics were determined and responses to the open-ended survey questions analysed. While, members of faculty were keen to adopt or tried to use the LMS, they had reservations about whether conditions existed to fully support its use in their teaching. The technology competence was perceived to be insufficient, which could be a contributor to the slow adoption of the LMS. Faculty managers must encourage and foster the use of LMSs by staff, this will have a positive ripple effect on student and mentor teachers and learners at large.
Research productivity is one of the core functions of a university and it plays a crucial role fo... more Research productivity is one of the core functions of a university and it plays a crucial role for a nation to develop and find its standing in our global world. This study examined the effect of ICT adoption and training on the research productivity of university academics. The study was conducted at four public universities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, whilst the part of the study on ICT training was conducted at one of the four universities. This study was conducted both in the form of a survey of 103 university academics and in the form of experimental sessions, where the use of ICT (EndNote, NVivo, AMOS, SPSS, and Turnitin) with training was used for research, the use of ICT without training was used for research and, finally, a session where a manual system (without using research software/tools and training) was used for research. The final results of the research revealed that the use of ICT tools (EndNote, NVivo, AMOS, SPSS, and Turnitin) with training increases research productivity as compared to using ICT tools without training, and/ or using a manual system (without using research software/ tools and training). A statistically proven model is recommended with a view to increase research productivity of academics.
African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, Jul 4, 2017
The commercialization of higher education institutions’ (HEIs’) research within the South African... more The commercialization of higher education institutions’ (HEIs’) research within the South African National System of Innovation (NSI) has received prominence in the post-apartheid era. Intra-African NSI dialogue to draw out context-specific and generic country experiences that could inform policy developments, and initiate and accelerate strengthening of research commercialization is important. However, there is a lack of data for a comprehensive and informed overview of the role of HEIs in commercialization of research and the main challenges they face. This paper intends to propose a more comprehensive platform for promoting, building, and managing commercialization of research. This mixed-method research confirmed that South African HEIs combine education, research and community engagement, but their base needs to be strengthened for research commercialization to occur. Findings identified that HEIs’ commercialization of research is constrained by lack of commercialization skills and low numbers of qualified staff, brain drain, aging of faculty, absence of intellectual property (IP) policy measures, and focus on lecturing rather than research-focused mandates. Proposed strategies to improve research commercialization should include development and implementation of fair IP policies and guidelines, bolstering of human and organizational capabilities at HEIs and research institutes, and strengthening periodic reviewing by the National Intellectual Property Management Office.
This paper presents a model regarding Information and Communication Technology (ICT) (SPSS, AMOS,... more This paper presents a model regarding Information and Communication Technology (ICT) (SPSS, AMOS, Turnitin, EndNote and NVivo) with training to increase the research productivity of university academics. This aim was achieved by examining academic staff (ICT uses with training) to increase research productivity and the study was experimental and conducted at a public university in South Africa. The target population for the experiment consisted of academic staff from a university. The questionnaire was used based on two the theoretical frameworks, namely Technology Acceptance Model and Training Needs Assessment Model. The data were analyzed using WarpPLS 4.0 software. The main results of this study are a model, derived from the experiment and it has a high significant impact ( ) on research productivity. In this regard, universities need to formulate strategies on ICT with training for researchers to use each software package in relation to improve their research productivity
PONTE International Scientific Researchs Journal, 2017
The use of mobile devices in learning has gained popularity among schools around the world. The p... more The use of mobile devices in learning has gained popularity among schools around the world. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the possibility of mobile devices being used to improve student academic performance in a developing country, Botswana. The research design for this study was a descriptive and interpretive study that was analysed quantitatively. Questionnaires and interviews were also used to evaluate students' perceptions and to determine their level of understanding with the use of mobile devices. The sample for the study was four classes of form four and form five students. The findings point out that many students have access to mobile devices with different applications of their preference. If given the opportunity, these devices can be used to enhance learning in general which can bring about change in academic performance. The findings led to the conclusion that, indeed mobile devices can play a vital role in the education of developing countries and bring about a change in academic learning.
Learning management systems (LMSs) are an important component of most universities. However, in s... more Learning management systems (LMSs) are an important component of most universities. However, in some universities there are clusters of faculty who do not make use of LMSs. An LMS is a component of technology - a driver for enhanced learning and teaching. This study investigated the dominant faculty attitudes towards integration of an LMS into teaching and learning, since successful implementation of an LMS in an institution starts with instructors/lecturers embracing the system, which in turn initiates and promotes students' use of an LMS. Faculty perceptions of an LMS and factors or constructs that may influence their use or intention to use one were explored. An online survey questionnaire was sent to all faculty members within a faculty that services teacher education within the university. A quantitative approach was employed, using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. Descriptive and inferential statistics were determined and responses to the open-ended survey questions analysed. While, members of faculty were keen to adopt or tried to use the LMS, they had reservations about whether conditions existed to fully support its use in their teaching. The technology competence was perceived to be insufficient, which could be a contributor to the slow adoption of the LMS. Faculty managers must encourage and foster the use of LMSs by staff, this will have a positive ripple effect on student and mentor teachers and learners at large.
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Papers by Desmond Govender