Readiness of South African fee-paying public high schools in Gauteng in adopting 4IR technologies in alignment with Education 4.0

dc.contributor.authorMokhwesana, Ramanti
dc.date.accessioned2025-02-25T08:12:20Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.descriptionA research report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in the field of Digital Business to the Faculty of Commerce, Law, and Management, Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024
dc.description.abstractii ABSTRACT Far-reaching implications are being observed regarding how people engage, live, work, and educate themselves due to the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The fusion of physical, human, and digital worlds is becoming increasingly evident. The redefinition of industries and the edification of people has led to the emergence of concepts like Education 4.0. which is characterised by intelligent technologies like three-dimensional printing (3D Printing), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, data analytics, machine learning (ML), gamification, and augmented reality (AR). Literature in this field highlights the disruptive nature of these 4IR technologies, particularly in the education sector. Purpose: This study investigated the readiness level of South African fee-paying public high schools in Gauteng in their adoption and implementation of 4IR technologies in alignment with the objectives of Education 4.0. The outcomes of the study aimed to provide valuable insights into the factors that may have impacted the adoption or lack thereof of 4IR technologies in the classroom and thus offered remedial solutions where applicable. Research Design and Methodology: A generic qualitative research design was employed to explore stakeholder perspectives on the benefits of 4IR technologies in education. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using snowball sampling to gather data. Thematic analysis, specifically an inductive approach, was chosen to identify and interpret emerging themes from the interview transcripts. This research design and methodology provided an in-depth understanding of stakeholder experiences and insights. The total sample size comprised eleven participants. Key Findings: The study revealed both potential benefits and challenges associated with adopting and integrating 4IR technologies in the educational facilities under study. Educators generally perceived value in 4IR technologies for enhancing education quality. Potential benefits identified included personalised learning, active learning, and preparing students for future work iii contexts. However, challenges such as restricted access to technology, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient training were also identified as potential barriers to adoption. Recommendations: The study recommends targeted interventions to address challenges and leverage opportunities for integrating 4IR technologies in foundational education contexts. These include exploring alternative financing models, implementing comprehensive and ongoing training programs, revising the curriculum policy statement, and effecting infrastructural improvements.
dc.description.submitterMM2025
dc.facultyFaculty of Commerce, Law and Management
dc.identifier.citationMokhwesana, Ramanti. (2023). Readiness of South African fee-paying public high schools in Gauteng in adopting 4IR technologies in alignment with Education 4.0 [Master’s dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg].WireDSpace.https://hdl.handle.net/10539/43962
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/43962
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniversity of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
dc.rights© 2023 University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
dc.rights.holderUniversity of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
dc.schoolWITS Business School
dc.subject4IR, Education 4.0
dc.subjectUTAUT
dc.subjectPersonalised Learning
dc.subjectArtificial Intelligence
dc.subjectVirtual Reality
dc.subjectUCTD
dc.subject.otherSDG-9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
dc.titleReadiness of South African fee-paying public high schools in Gauteng in adopting 4IR technologies in alignment with Education 4.0
dc.typeDissertation

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