University of Zululand

Phenotypic, bioactive and metabolomic diversity among indigenous Southern African underutilised monkey orange (Strychnos spinosa Lam.) fruit accessions

Strychnos spinosa Lam. is an indigenous African fruit tree with considerable phenotypic diversity, yet the extent to which visible fruit morphotypes correspond to biochemical and metabolic variation remains poorly resolved. This study integrated fruit morphology, physicochemical...

The Allelopathic Effects of Platycarpha glomerata (Thunb.) Less. on Germination and Growth of Bidens pilosa L. Weed

Bidens pilosa L. is a widespread weed that invades grasslands, agricultural fields, and roadsides, and outcompetes indigenous plant species for resources, posing significant challenges to sustainable agricultural management. The study investigated the allelopathic potential of di...

Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge for Climate-Smart Agri-Food Systems: A Review of Adaptation Strategies, Food Security, Ecosystem Services, Governance, and Digital Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces escalating climate challenges that threaten agricultural productivity, food security, ecosystem sustainability, and rural livelihoods. Indigenous knowledge (IK), developed through generations of interaction with local environments, offers context-sp...

IS EMPLOYMENT ALONGSIDE Phd STUDY BETTER? A SCOPING REVIEW

The increasing number of doctoral students who are employed while studying for a PhD is commonly presumed to be at risk of delayed completion or even dropout. This study investigated whether employed PhD students in the public and private sectors play a significant role in comple...

WHAT TOOK THEM SO LONG? A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW ON DELAY IN COMPLETION OF PHD PROGRAMME

Delays in doctoral completion remain a persistent challenge for higher education institutions worldwide, with significant implications for doctoral candidates, universities, and national research productivity. This systematic literature review critically examines the factors asso...

WHAT TOOK THEM SO LONG? A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW ON DELAY IN COMPLETION OF PHD PROGRAMME

Delays in doctoral completion remain a persistent challenge for higher education institutions worldwide, with significant implications for doctoral candidates, universities, and national research productivity. This systematic literature review critically examines the factors asso...

Tailoring structural and optical properties of CdSe thin films deposited with nominal Tb³⁺ precursor concentrations (0–10 mol%) via chemical bath deposition

Cadmium selenide (CdSe) thin films were deposited on glass substrates by chemical bath deposition using nominal Tb³ ⁺ precursor concentrations of 0 –10 mol% at 80 °C. The influence of increasing Tb precursor concentration on the structural, morphological, and optical properties o...

AI-Enabled Capacity Building for Special Education Pre-Service Teachers: A Systematic Scoping Review of the Global South with Implications for South African Rural Universities

The high rate of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education is changing how teachers teach, how they are trained, and how institutions are managed. While many studies explore the use of AI in teaching and learning, there is a lack of research on how it supports capacity...