2024
Abstract: Commercial air transport growth and its technological evolution have played a pivotal role in facilitating increased people movement across nations. While numerous studies have examined the broader international travel demand evolution or specific patterns between locations, understanding the drivers that propel people towards different destinations is essential for both companies’ planning and the formulation of public policies. This study contributes to this endeavor by analyzing three crucial socioeconomic factors that shape our global reality: globalization, countries’ economic structure, and the dynamics within this structure. Through the utilization of panel data regression analysis methodology, the relationships between the evolution of international tourism and these socioeconomic factors are estimated and discussed. The findings highlight strong associations between each perspective analyzed and the historical demand for tourism, which provides valuable insights for developing strategies that harness the positive impacts of globalization, addressing regional disparities, and promoting sustainable tourism growth
By: Ventura, R. V., Fernandes, E., Cabo, M., Carvalho, C. F. de M., Fernandes, V. A., & Tshikovhi, N.
Access Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2024.2368730
Abstract: In developing countries, there is an increased emphasis on encouraging the commercialisation of research at universities. This triggers universities to adopt a culture of innovation and technological learning at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The focus of this review article is to highlight the benefits and challenges faced by researchers in the field of synthetic biology products, biotechnology, agribusiness, Biofuels and phytomedicine in commercialisation. The methodological approach was informed by a selection of electronic databases with a high chance of the selected field in relation to the commercialisation of the research outputs. Google Scholar, PubMed, and Higher Education and Science Technology South Africa Reports for entrepreneurial universities were searched, focusing on 2007 to 2023. The years proved to have played a role in furthering discussions and policy in research on commercialisation in South Africa, the benefits of research commercialisation, challenges of research commercialisation, its determinants, and its impact on academics, universities, and other stakeholders. The review findings suggest that the commercialisation of research is a challenging and complex task to execute, as there are very few cases in South Africa to have a successful academic intellectual property creation, licensing, academic entrepreneurship, and start-up of research. This is placed into context by the fact that the market for high-end products and processes is highly uncertain.
By: Razwinani, M., Tshikovhi, N. and Motaung, K. S.
Access Link: https://journals.dut.ac.za/index.php/ajims/article/view/1210
Abstract: It has been propagated by scholars and practitioners that entrepreneurship and innovation are potent tools that can be harnessed to transform rural areas, grow rural economies, create jobs, and enhance the prospects of attaining sustainable development goals (SDGs). Subsequently, these disciplines have garnered attention from researchers for virtually a century. Nonetheless, these researchers often focused on entrepreneurship and innovation activities in urban areas, thereby neglecting entrepreneurship and innovation activities in rural areas. Thus, there is a paucity of literature on rural entrepreneurship and innovation in the BRICS economies. Within the context of the agency theory and the Triple Helix Model of industrial policy, this study systematically reviews the literature on rural entrepreneurship and innovation in the Republic of South Africa. The study revealed that rural firms are risk-averse, which challenges the doctrine of rural transformation through rural entrepreneurship and innovation. Moreover, the ability to engage in entrepreneurship and innovation by rural firms is highly dependent on the availability of support from the government and actor networks. Subsequently, rural firms fail when support has been phased out. Thus, the government and actor networks should do things differently, with an emphasis on teaching rural firms to be independent and sustainable entrepreneurs and innovators.
By: Lavhelesani, M. and Tshikovhi, N.
Access Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062408
Abstract: There is an increasing interest in the role of digital health in the healthcare industry, focusing on enhancing patient care through technologies such as electronic health records (EHRs), mobile health applications, telemedicine, and other advancements. The purpose of this review is to highlight the enormous potential of digital transformation tools in managing and mitigating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which affect millions of people worldwide, particularly in the Global South. To meet this purpose, we conducted a scoping review of existing literature and investigated the specific application of these technologies to NTDs. Briefly, the review entailed three main components: a bibliometric analysis, a content analysis, and the design of an ontological model to illustrate the relationships between technologies and diseases.
By: de Souza Rodrigues, D., de Paula Fonseca, B. and Fernandes, E.
Access Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40475-024-00319-x
2023
Abstract: Human resilience to COVID-19 related stressors remains a pressing concern following the aftereffects of the pandemic and in the face of probable future pandemics. In response, we systematically scoped the available literature (n = 2030 records) to determine the nature and extent of research on emerging adults’ adaptive responses to COVID-19 stressors in the early stages of the pandemic. Using a multisystem resilience framework, our narrative review of 48 eligible studies unpacks the personal, relational, institutional and/or physical ecological resources that enabled positive emerging adult outcomes to COVID-18 stressors. We found that there is a geographical bias in studies on this topic, with majority world contexts poorly represented. Resources leading to positive outcomes foregrounded psychological and social support, while institutional and ecological supports were seldom mentioned. Multisystemic combinations of resources were rarely considered. This knowledge has valuable implications for understanding resilience in the context of other large-scale adverse conditions.
By: Theron, L.C., Cockcroft, K., N. Annalakshmi, N., Rodgers, J. G., Akinduyo, T. E., & Fouché, A
Access Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-023-01585-y
Abstract: Emerging adulthood is the transitional stage from adolescence to adulthood, which poses numerous challenges to attaining developmental tasks like establishing intimate relationships, exploring possibilities, preparing for a career, and the like. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these challenges further. The present study aimed to examine positive and negative outcomes associated with family adversity, perception of neighborhood, and victimization by community among emerging adults who had a personal experience with COVID-19. Aconvenient sample of 206 emerging adults, both males and females, in the age group 18-29 years was used for this study. The
participants completed self-report measures of family adversity, perception of the neighborhood, victimization by the community, life satisfaction, well-being, depression, and delinquency. One-way ANOVA and multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that the males have a more positive perception of the neighborhood than females. Females experienced low well-being as compared to males. Family adversity negatively predicted well-being and positively predicted depression. Perception of neighborhood positively predicted well-being and life satisfaction, whereas victimization by community positively predicted depression and delinquency. The implications of the study for future research, practice, and policy are discussed
in detail.
By: Annalakshmi, N., Gayathry, V., & Kishor, C.
Access Link: https://search.proquest.com/openview/b258e870db95ff07b66962c2eb1e3f62/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=5347679
Abstract: The pandemic and the lockdowns that followed led to significant changes in people's lives. Emerging adults were among the vulnerable groups affected badly by COVID-19-related stressors due to their stage of development. The present study aimed to investigate personal resources associated with emerging adults' resilience to COVID-19 challenges, as reported by a sample of Indian emerging adults. The data were collected from 50 participants (25 males & 25 females) aged 18-29, using a semi-structured interview schedule. The inductive thematic analysis technique was used to analyze the data, which revealed interesting findings on resilience among emerging adults. The results revealed that personal resources, namely, a sense of agency, positive goal focus, nurturing positivity, engaging in physical activities, engaging in hobbies, improving physical health, and experiential connection with nature, were associated with resilience to COVID-19 challenges among emerging adults. These findings compel us to examine resilience in terms of the personal characteristics of an individual, which offer ways to increase psychological resilience during difficult times.
By: Annalakshmi, N., Gayathry, V., & Deepak Kumar, S..
Access Link: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&profile=ehost&scope=site&authtype=crawler&jrnl=22294937&AN=165033454&h=SQ%2BkLQNwb5Vep9rW%2BybaKK
3bKTHbEiPa4dKAVq2QaFL7poc6mY15B%2FKH9OK%2BTnIRudGHaCzihisI0B1Q3CuZ5w%3D%3D&crl=c
Abstract:
Purpose
International climate politics are gradually changing in terms of new and ground-breaking policies and decision-making spearheaded by national governments. The growing global demand to combat climate change reflects the current challenges the world is facing. India’s negotiations at United Nations Conference on Climate Change are based on “equity,” “historical responsibility” and the “polluter pays” agenda, until a shift in the voluntary reduction of carbon emissions takes place. The purpose of this study is to understand why India, a “deal breaker”, is seen as a “deal maker” in climate governance?
Design/methodology/approach
For a state like India, domestic preferences are equally important in introducing climate policies alongside its concerns over poverty reduction and economic development, which also stand with its sustainable development goals. This paper explains India’s decision-making using a two-level approach focusing on “domestic preferences.” This rationale is based on India’s historical background as well as new upcoming challenges.
Findings
This paper shows that India has both the domestic needs and long-term benefits of combating climate change to cut carbon emissions, which gives the responsibility primarily to domestic audiences and international societies.
Originality/value
This paper uses an international political lens to critically analyze India’s climate positions and politics from both domestic and international levels, demonstrating the importance of considering both short- and long-term goals. The outcome benefits not only the policymakers in India but also stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.
