Doctoral Research

The analysis of economic challenges in developing countries reveals several flaws and dysfunctions including (i) high rates of unemployment; (ii) rising inequality; (iii) disruption of major economic activities due to the pandemic; and (iv) low productity due to poor human capital development (UNICEF, 2021). To address some of these challenges, development efforts, including the Global Partnership for Education, the Malala Fund, and others, have been devoted to the implementation of education reforms to improve quality (Bruns, Macdonald, & Schneider, 2019; Ditlev-Simonsen, 2021). The emphasis on education quality emanates from the reality that it equips students with the necessary skills to enhance national competitiveness, reduce inequality within a country, and eventually foster economic growth (Callender & Dougherty, 2018; Ramirez, 2014).

A resilient region is seen as one that continues to prosper and maintain economic stability in the face of inevitable shocks and disruptions that occur over time (Christopherson et al., 2010, p. 134). The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and seize new opportunities, leading to increased innovation and competitive advantage, make such regions more attractive to businesses and investors by providing a stable environment in which to invest and grow. And, particularly, innovation systems at different levels (Rose & Krausmann, 2013) such as scientific communities of national academies of sciences are seen as key to developing regional resilience.

Women Entrepreneurs are understood to be an under-utilized group with significant potential for global and national economic growth and development. With the necessary drivers to foster their success, women entrepreneurs could enhance national competitiveness, reduce unemployment, lower poverty and social exclusion, and improve Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The McKinsey Global Institute suggests that by 2025, the global GDP could be increased by $12 trillion by improving women?s access to entrepreneurship opportunities.

A great deal of international financial and technical support has been provided to Africa to build the capacity of the continent to harness science, technology and innovation opportunities to address critical challenges like food insecurity and malnutrition. However, African countries still remain among the most heavily affected globally by food insecurity and malnutrition

It is argued that the Black employee career experience and development is different from that of their Caucasian counterparts due to their socio-economic background in South Africa (Watson & Stead, 2001). This experience results from the emerging Black workforce being subject to the ramifications of historical inequities (De Beer, Rothmann Jr, & Pienaar, 2016). These historical inequities influence various areas of career development such as education, skills development and social networks.