Stellenbosch University Library and Information Service - News from research support services

Author: Marié Roux (Page 1 of 12)

Case Study Research in the Digital Age: A book review

Gallagher, J.R. 2024. Case Study Research in the Digital Age. Abingdon, Oxon; Routledge. DOI: 10.4324/9781003402169.

Case Study Research in the Digital Age - 1st Edition - John R. Gallagh

The advent of information technologies (IT) has drastically changed modern life. IT has impacted how society works, for instance, writing and reading are now predominantly done on computers, instead of paper. The development of the internet further emphasises the transformational impact of IT, on daily lives, to most, unimaginably with their smart cellular phones. This era, termed the Digital Age, and sometimes, the Information Society, is characterised by rapid and constant changes in all aspects of society. This book intends to demonstrate how this digital age has permeated case studies in scientific research. Gallager argues that case study research needs to be reconsidered and updated to fit with the digital nature of modern human life. In an elaborate development of his argument, Gallagher, convincingly unpacks case study research, and recontextualizes it in the digital context.

Drawing on the author’s more than twenty years experience as a Writing and Rhetoric researcher, and affiliated with Information Science, at the University of Urbana-Champaign, the book foregrounds its theoretical rationale in the ‘Introduction’. The rationale is further developed in Chapter 1, which deals with definitions and the book’s central theme, entities [own emphasis]. In Chapter 2, a link is created between ‘Iterative bounding’ and digital research, to develop the book’s conceptual framework. Data collection, phrased as ‘collections practices’, is explained in Chapter 3. Logically, data analysis in digital case studies follows, in Chapter 4, which is divided into four parts. Chapter 5 concentrates on ethics, this chapter can be read before data collection and analysis, as it is applicable throughout the research process. Special considerations in ‘Writing and visualizing the digital case’, are explained in Chapter 6. The book concludes by noting the emergence of artificial intelligence and its potential implications on case study research.

Gallagher argues that the current digital age requires reimagining case studies, not just as a method or technique, but also as methodology. The advantage of marrying case study with digital research is motivated. Both can be understood as complex, messy, and flexible boundaries (Gallagher, 2024:3). The rationale for the book is justified by claiming that most prominent literature on case studies has not considered the digital networked nature of the modern, and therefore the
“…approaches of these books can be applied to… digital context but their frameworks are not explicitly designed for such contexts.” (Gallagher, 2024:4). Crucially the book motivates for replacing ‘unit of analysis’ with ‘entity’ as the central concept in case studies. It maintains that the term unit connotates a bounded reality, which does not suit the messy and porous boundaries of modern life, because of networked information technologies.

Although the argument is well explained, it was challenging to grasp how this necessitated reconceptualizing case studies entirely as digital phenomena. The argument of the book, to review case study in the digital pervasive human existence, is further developed in the latter chapters of the book by providing examples to demonstrate the inadequacy of the positivist bounded holism case study approaches, as espoused by Stake (1995) and Yin (2009) (Gallagher, 2024:39). Although the book adds additional digital dimensions to case studies, such as web-scraping boundaries (Gallagher, 2024:86) and facets of digital data boundaries (Gallagher, 2024:93), it does concede that the traditional case study approach should not be discarded. The book integrates the traditional qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques, for instance, workflow boundaries (Gallagher, 2024:100), data cleaning boundaries (Gallagher, 2024:105), with digital affordances, such as topic modelling using computer algorithms, and identifying themes, through machine learning language models. However, these digital additions, seem to be related to practicalities, and may not explain the call to, for instance, replace ‘unit of study’ with ‘entity’, as argued.

The concept of adapting case study as a methodology to align with the flexible, boundless and networked digital world advanced by Gallager, is timely. Especially, as the author noted, with the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and the ethical questions around bias, because of scraping the existing unbalanced content on the internet, as well as distinguishing between human and machine writing (Gallagher, 2024:121). The thesis of the book will be of interest to researchers and students involved in case study research, and research generally, as it foregrounds digital research, which is a fact of modern-day research life.

Author: Joseph Mangadi, Faculty Librarian: Science

Frequently asked questions about ORCID

ORCID as a unique author identifier plays a large role in the scholarly communication process. It doesn’t only assist with name ambiguation but also supports funding applications and submissions of articles to publishers. An important aspect of ORCID is that it also enhances workflows in research systems. Several common questions about ORCID are usually addressed during the workshop on ORCID – Managing your unique author identity with ORCID. Herewith a summary of some of those questions and answers.

Why is it important to have an ORCID iD?
  • ORCID improve the visibility of your work. As a researcher you want to be read, acknowledged, an cited.
  • Researchers want to spend their time on research, not reporting – ORCID allows you to enter your biographical details and works only once and it could then be reused by other research information systems, publishers, funders. You could also allow publishers, institutions (such as Stellenbosch University) and databases to use your ORCID information and to update automatically.
  • Name ambiguity is a fundamental issue for researchers. Ambiguity may be the result of a common name, by a person with several language variants of their name, or by variations in how name information is collected. By creating your ORCID iD this issue will be resolved.
  • To support discoverability, we need to connect information across databases, disciplines and organisations.
  • National funding agencies are using ORCID in their grants management systems including the National Research Foundation (NRF).
How do I connect my ORCID iD to the SU integration?

It is important to Create and/or connect your ORCID iD with the Stellenbosch University integration. Follow the link from the ORCID Library guide: http://libguides.sun.ac.za/ORCID. This will allow you to connect your iD to SU, and it will also allow SU to store an access token to your ORCID record for future use in other research systems.

Where can I use my ORCID iD?
  • Sign in with ORCID in research systems: Funders, publishers, research employers, organisations, associations, institutions and repositories.
  • Sign in with ORCID where you see the iD logo, for example: Submitting a manuscript, applying for a grant or depositing in a repository.
  • Display your iD on your: Institutional profile page, email signature, conference presentation, media stories, CV or anywhere you have a public profile, e.g. blog, website, or social media.
Why is it important to ensure that my ORCID record is up to date?
  • Empty records don’t mean anything, they will not be discoverable/findable
  • Discover more complete Altmetric information via Altmetric Explorer
  • Research systems that are integrated with ORCID (such as Sympletic Elements), will be able to update profiles more accurately when your ORCID iD is populated correctly.
How can I ensure that my ORCID iD is up to date?
  • Connect with DataCite, and Crossref for automatic updates to your ORCID record.
  • Populate your ORCID record under all the different sections: Employment, Education, Funding, Works (all publications), Peer reviews.
  • Connect to systems, publishers, databases, wherever you can.
How does ORCID support the FAIR principles?
  • Findable: One of the core goals of ORCID is to increase the discoverability of researchers by disambiguating them from all the other researchers with the same or even a similar name and definitively connecting them with their research contribution metadata
  • Accessible: End-users visiting ORCID iDs in a standard web browser will see all the public data available for the ORCID record in the ORCID registry’s user interface.
  • Interoperable: ORCID’s interoperable infrastructure can help accelerate knowledge discovery and increase the integrity, transparency, and reproducibility of research by encouraging FAIR Data Principles and Open Science practices through persistent identifiers and standardized, openly accessible data.
  • Reusable: ORCID’s public data is designed to be maximally reusable. The public dataset is released under a CC0 waiver and includes detailed provenance metadata, allowing users of the data to determine its applicability and trustworthiness for their use case.

Please contact Marié Roux for any assistance with your ORCID record.

Research Data Management regulations: A model for responsible data stewardship

Research data management is a core part of responsible research conduct; it covers the entire research data lifecycle and ensures the integrity, confidentiality and availability of research data.  Within the legislative realm of data protection, researchers need to understand their role and responsibilities in terms of various legislation and regulatory guidelines on protection of data, most notably the South African Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA). It is for this purpose that the University developed and adopted research data management regulations for researchers. These regulations are aligned with the FAIR Principles (data should be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable), which serve as the international standard for Open Data and Open Science. The aim of these principles is to ensure that research data remains accessible and usable not only during the research lifecycle but also after the project concludes, promoting the sustainability of academic contributions.

The RDM regulations are not designed to lock research data away but rather to strike a balance between safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring ease of access for future research.

Why SU RDM regulations are crucial

SU researchers are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with these regulations, as they play a pivotal role in the proper planning, handling, and management of research data. The importance of adhering to these guidelines extends far beyond SU’s borders. The RDM regulations integrate a range of existing policies and legislations, both at the national and international levels, reflecting the complex landscape of data governance. These include national legislation, policies from research funders, regional and local guidelines, institutional policies, discipline-specific community standards, and publication-specific policies (journal requirements).

Given the diversity of data policies across these sources, researchers often find it challenging to remain compliant, especially regarding local institutional rules such as SU’s RDM regulations. This uncertainty is more prevalent in fields where data practices are less regulated. The SU RDM regulations seek to eliminate this ambiguity by equipping researchers with the knowledge and tools needed to manage their data effectively, ensuring both compliance and ethical data use.

Support and advocacy through the Library and Information Service

The  Library offers a wide range of support services to assist researchers with RDM, including guidance available through the RDM LibGuide. These resources help ensure that research data is properly managed in alignment with the institution’s standards and broader legislative requirements. To facilitate compliance with these regulations, the library services provide researchers with SunDMP, a data management planning tool designed to help structure and plan for responsible data handling throughout the research process. Moreover, research data can be stored and shared in SUNScholarData, SU’s institutional data repository, which ensures long-term preservation and access to data in line with global best practices.

SU’s RDM regulations advocate for the sharing of research data as a means of promoting scholarly communication, transparency in research, and maximizing the return on resources invested in SU’s research efforts. By encouraging the open sharing of data, these regulations support a collaborative research environment, where data is not just a byproduct of research, but a resource that amplifies the impact and reach of SU’s contributions to global knowledge.

Please contact Sizwe Ngcobo or Xabiso Xesi at rdm@sun.ac.za for any enquiries.

The 14th Annual Manuscript Lecture during the Woordfees

In light of celebrating democracy in 2024, the Library will be hosting the 14th Annual Manuscript Lecture as part of the Woordfees on 1 October at 12:00 in the SU Library auditorium. The theme of the lecture is “Democracy through the lens of primary documents at Special Collections” and will feature a panel discussion on democracy through the lens of primary documents at Special Collections. Participants will be asked, inter alia, to reflect on their interaction with primary resources.

Dr Marietjie Oelofsen, former IDASA member and current project manager at the Stellenbosch University Museum will facilitate the panel discussion. The invited participants are Riaan de Villiers, journalist, political researcher and author, Sherie Vollenhoven and Nkululeko Ndlovu, both BA Hons Journalism students. The event will also include a viewing of the democracy exhibition.

In celebration of 30 years of democracy and South Africa, the SU Library is currently presenting an exhibition, titled 1994–2024 – Democracy in South Africa: A History Told by Unique Library Collections, in front of the Learning Commons on the upper floor. The exhibition showcases rare and historically significant items from collections in the Special Collections division that chronicle the nation’s journey to democracy.

The exhibition focuses specifically on recently acquired collections that reflect a more comprehensive view of South Africa’s history, focusing on the road to democracy and decisive moments in the nation’s history. The exhibition is by no means an exhaustive expression of recent history as it is based on collections curated by the Library.

One of the main aims of the exhibition is to highlight the research value of manuscript collections. Researching these may lead to a deeper understanding of the historical context that led to the establishment of democracy in 1994. Some of the collections featured, for example, the Foreign Debt Collection of 1985/86, contains rare documents that have not previously been examined and can shed light on the impact that negotiating the country’s foreign debt in the 1980’s had on the eventual release of Nelson Mandela.

Some of the highlights of the exhibition include:

  • Handwritten excerpt from “A prayer for the ANC” by Beyers Naudé, 1994.
  • A letter from Nelson Mandela indicating that the renegotiation of South African debt overseas in the 1980s played a major role in his liberation –an item from the South African Foreign Debt collection, 1985/1986.
  • The Frederik van Zyl Slabbert collection with various interesting items relating to his resignation from Parliament, views on apartheid and the need for reform debate.
  • The IDASA collection, focusing on material related to voter education before the 1994 election.

Author: Mimi Seyffert-Wirth

Open Access: Events and advocacy

Stellenbosch University’s Library and Information Service is committed to advancing open science by implementing innovative services that support researchers, academics, and all stakeholders in the scholarly publishing process. Over the years, the Library has implemented several initiatives to promote open science/access. These include the celebration of the  International Open Access Week, an annual event where open access advocates share innovative ideas about developments in the open science/access sphere.

This year the Library’s International Open Access Week event will be celebrated in October. It will consist of a panel discussion of 3 researchers which will help increase awareness about the advantages of open science/access. Other SU open access initiatives include SunScholar, which is Stellenbosch University’s institutional repository that supports openness and dissemination of scholarly publication to wider audience with very limited access restrictions. This repository consists of theses and dissertations, journal papers, conference papers and many other types of research outputs. Another repository, SUNDigital Collections showcases digital content from the Library and Information Service’s unique digital and cultural heritage collections, while SUNScholarData is used for the registration, archival storage, sharing and dissemination of research data produced or collected about research conducted under the auspices of Stellenbosch University. The Stellenbosch University is also part of the South African National Library and Information Consortium (SANLiC), which signed “Read and Publish” (transformational) agreements with publishers. These agreements aim to open opportunities for SU researchers to publish open access without paying article processing charges (APCs). So far, 16 publishers allow SU researchers to publish in all hybrid journals at no APCs and in selected fully open access journals, at a discount. We continue to encourage researchers to educate themselves about the different open access options.  Open access increases the visibility and impact of research published at SU. However, we understand that new models of publishing come with their challenges. Not every researcher understands the role and benefits of OA. As such, the Library has been involved in various innovative initiatives that seek to introduce the open access publishing model to researchers.

One such innovation is the recently launched #BeOpenAccessSmart webinar series which commenced with an inaugural webinar on 17 September 2024. With the introduction of the webinar series, the library aims to consolidate its role as one of the foremost critical thought leaders in the open science arena. The webinar will strengthen the Library’s advocacy role for open science and ensure that scholars understand its benefits. Open Science initiatives typically seek to democratically provide knowledge, promote collaboration, and support the advancement of scientific innovation without any financial and access hindrances.

Ms Ellen Tise, the Senior Director of the Library, officially launched the #BeOpenAccessSmart webinar series and both internal and external attendees had the opportunity to learn more about open access/science. Conducted by Mr Thanos Giannakopoulos, from the United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld Library, the title of the inaugural presentation was “(G)AI, Open Access, and Sustainable Development: The Evolving Role of Libraries in a Transforming World.” The focus was on the intersection of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), open access (OA), and sustainable development. Among other themes, the webinar explored the evolving role of libraries in promoting AI literacy, safeguarding data privacy, elevating the need to mitigate bias, and fostering OA for all. Mr Giannakopoulos stipulated that libraries play a critical role in mitigating misinformation and raising awareness about challenges like privacy, bias, and the environmental impact of generative AI in relation to sustainable human development. He further alluded that libraries should ensure that AI tools are accessible globally, particularly for underdeveloped regions. He warned that generative AI poses risks associated with misuse and abuse of personal data, among other concerns. It is the role of libraries, working with different stakeholders, to ensure responsible AI use. These libraries must advocate for sustainable and ethical AI practices aligned with sustainable development goals.

Meanwhile 460 registrations from about 23 countries were received for the webinar of which at least 180 people attended. Attendees alluded that Mr Thanos’ presentation greatly enriched their understanding of how these dynamic fields are shaping the future and the pivotal role libraries play in this transformation. Libraries are at the centre of the OA movement, and their role is to dissect the open science or OA concept and ensure that researchers are well-informed and educated on the issues of open science/access.

The Library hopes that these webinars will be a cornerstone for the scholarly communication landscape by providing essential education and support to researchers navigating the complexities of open science/access publishing.

Please contact Sakhile Mngomezulu for any assistance with Open Access publishing or for more information about the events.

Authors: Sakhile Mngomezulu and Siviwe Bangani

Frequently Asked Questions about Open Access publishing

Introduction

The Library and Information Service is dedicated to offering top-notch assistance for any open access-related inquiries. To guarantee that our researchers receive timely feedback on matters about open access, frequently asked questions (FAQs) have been added to LibAnswers.

Eligibility to use transformational agreements

One of the most frequently asked inquiries is concerning eligibility, and researchers are interested in the requirements, primarily the institution’s affiliation. It is also crucial to remember that, if one of our writers collaborates with an author from another university, the corresponding author of the paper needs to be affiliated with Stellenbosch University for the article to be eligible for the use of a transformational agreement.

How to avoid Predatory journals?

Finding information about predatory journals and ensuring that researchers are not duped into publishing in questionable journals are two commonly addressed questions. Ask your Faculty Librarian or Scholarly Communicaton staff to help you to avoid these journals and publishers.

Does Open Access mean lower quality?

NO, the quality of a journal is determined by its editorial standards, peer-review process, and the impact of its publications, not by its accessibility. Many reputable journals are open access including those published by major academic publishers.

Are all predatory journals Open Access?

NO, predatory journals can be both open access or subscription-based. The access model is not a determining factor, but predatory journals lack legitimate and transparent editorial practices.

Why do some researchers associate Open Access journals with lower quality?

The association stems from the existence of predatory publishers who misuse the open access model. Predatory publishers often lack proper peer review and editorial oversight, leading to the publication of low-quality or even fake research.

What are Article Processing Charges (APCs)?

Scholars consistently inquire about the types of publications included in transformational agreements and the distinction between publishing in fully open access vs hybrid journals. The FAQs have been updated, and researchers may now access crucial information including the fact that there are no APCs associated with publishing in hybrid journals, but that there are various reductions available for completely open access journals based on the institution’s arrangement with the participating publisher.

Is the Open Access Publishing Fund still available?

Scholars consistently inquire about the Open Access Publication Fund, which was discontinued in April 2021. This fund is therefore not available anymore. To address these questions, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Libanswers was created, along with a link to our open access Libguide that offers a detailed explanation of the fund’s closure.

What is a Journal finder?

Researchers are welcome to contact their Faculty Librarians or Scholarly Communication to get assistance in selecting journals to publish their articles. Most publishers have a “Journal finder” section which also assists them with locating the appropriate approved journal for a publication. See these examples: Elsevier’s Journal Finder and Wiley’s Journal Finder. 

Where can I find the list of accredited journals?

Researchers frequently have inquiries concerning the DHET accredited journals list. You can find out whether a journal is accredited by consulting the Accredited journals page under “Outputs and Journals” on the Division for Research Development website. You are also welcome to ask your faculty librarian for assistance.

What is a Read and Publish agreement?

One of the frequently asked questions, revolves around understanding what a Read and Publish agreement really means. It is also known as transformational agreements, which means that these agreements provide access to publishing and reading simultaneously. One of the benefits of open access is unrestricted spreading of knowledge to the wider audience, to ensure improved impact, consumption, increased citations and growth as an author.

Conclusion

The open access team at Stellenbosch University is responsible for ensuring that researchers are fully informed on everything related to open access. The purpose of the recently introduced FAQs is to enhance our offerings and enable customers to access information when the Library is closed. Additionally, the group is dedicated to helping users and interacting with them to improve comprehension of scientific publishing and open access.

More information:

  • Stellenbosch University Transformational Agreements Libguide
  • The Library’s Open Access webpage
  • SANLiC
  • Publisher Websites: Many publishers provide details about their transformational agreements and participating institutions.

Enquiries: Sakhile Mngomezulu

#BeOpenAccessSmart webinars

Open access (OA) initiatives are rapidly gaining traction because of the increased subscription-based journal costs, access inequalities, advancements of digital technology, demand for greater transparency and collaboration, and funding agencies’ mandates calling for research published using their funds to be made publicly available.

Libraries, more than any other organisation, have been at the forefront of this evolving field of scholarly communications, helping to build institutional repositories, host open access books and journals, and publish open access textbooks, among other projects. Recently, libraries have been negotiating Transformational Agreements (TAs) to shield scholars from the astronomical Article Processing Charges (APCs) that journals demand for them to publish open access content. Despite all its achievements, it remains unclear if this approach has resulted in the fundamental transformation that proponents of open access and libraries had hoped for. Many OA supporters and libraries still believe that more can be done to advance OA despite all these efforts. As a result, libraries must launch creative campaigns to bolster their OA advocacy and guarantee that authors are aware of its advantages. Open Access (OA) projects generally aim to boost scientific innovation, foster cooperation, and democratically share knowledge.

The Library scheduled an open access (OA) webinar series, #BeOpenAccessSmart to share some open access insights with researchers. Mr. Thanos Giannakopoulos, Chief of the Information Management Section of the United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld Library, will lead the first-ever webinar. The session, titled “(G)AI, Open Access, and Sustainable Development: The Evolving Role of Libraries in a Transforming World,” will explore how (G)AI, Open Access, and sustainable development intersect. It will examine how libraries are becoming more and more important in advancing AI literacy, protecting data privacy, emphasising the need to lessen bias, and encouraging open access for all. Stellenbosch library aims to share practical approaches to appropriately addressing (G)AI while promoting international knowledge exchange and fair access to information. This webinar will take place on 17 September 2024 and the engagement will enlighten researchers on publishing in Open access, artificial intelligence and the role of the Stellenbosch library in the promotion of open access.

Date: 17 September 2024, 14:30 – 15:30 (SAST/CET) or 08:30-09:30 (ET)

Register here:  https://sun.ac.za.libcal.com/event/12695996

For further information: Please contact Sakhile Mngomezulu tel: 021 808 9907

Research Data Management Tools for SU Researchers

Historically, data collection has been paper-based. However, the developments in information and communication technologies have brought paperless data management within reach. This has made way for the adoption of new methods and tools (software, hardware, instruments and equipment), new data sources, and increased connection of global research via the internet. Having explored this paradigm shift and the challenges it comes with, particularly the reproducibility of research and the transparency of research methods. The Stellenbosch University’s Library and Information Service acknowledges that by carefully planning, documenting, and preserving data, the goals of having reproducible and transparent research data are far easier to meet. It is for this reason that the Library adopted modern research technologies in the form of SunDMP (Data Management Planning tool) and SUNScholarData (Institutional Research Data Repository).

SunDMP: A data management planning tool

Data Management Plans are the basis for structured research data management throughout the research data lifecycle. A Data Management Plan (DMP) is a formal written document that describes the data a researcher expects to acquire or generate during the course of a scientific research project. The need for having a DMP emanates from the understanding that research data is being produced at a rapid rate in a wide variety of digital forms in academic institutions like Stellenbosch University (SU). However, this data is most prone to loss due to mismanagement. These kinds of developments have over the years prompted research funders to require researchers to submit DMPs as part of their proposals for research grant applications. The Library and Information Service as the natural partner to the research process understands that without proper management and care, research data often does not exist much past the completion of the scientific research project. The launch of SunDMP has made it possible for SU researchers to automatically generate DMPs using the University’s standard template. Moreover, the Library recommends that SunDMP not be limited to the minimal creation of a DMP as per funder requirements or SU’s research data management (RDM) regulations. Instead, it ought to be treated as an invaluable part of the research data lifecycle that ensures research data remains usable to the primary researcher during the scientific research project (and beyond), as well as by other researchers with similar research interests.

SUNScholarData: An institutional research data repository

Data management and sharing have become more prominent among research organisations, and this has encouraged such organisations to develop local infrastructure (institutional research data repositories) to cater for such developments. A growing number of funders and publishers require researchers to publicly share their research data and sometimes recommend specific platforms in which data may be shared. Research data publishing is an approach for sharing research data to enable other researchers with similar interests to reuse the same data. In instances where SU researchers are unsure where to share their research data when publishing, our CoreTrustSeal-certified SUNScholarData should always remain the first point of reference. This does not in any way supersede the platform recommended by the funder or publisher. The use of SUNScholarData by SU researchers helps ensure that their research data is likely to be discovered by other users and more likely to be cited. This is due to the fact that SUNScholarData is an openly accessible platform that adheres to FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) principles of data handling and management.

Enquiries: Xabiso Xesi, Sizwe Ngcobo

A new face and place for theses/dissertations submissions

SUNScholar is open to receive new nominations for the December 2024 graduation period.”

That was the opening line for every graduation period.  This year is no different, except now it has a new name, face and place.  The submission of theses and dissertations for graduation has moved to SUNStudent Academia.

The nomination for students to submit a thesis or dissertation for graduation now takes place on Thesis Management.

Thesis Management sits under the tab for Examinations, yet it has nothing to do with examinations.  For each functionality, Examinations and Thesis Management, it is two totally different, and separate processes and therefore two different outcomes.

During the process of Examinations, the thesis or dissertation has yet to be examined and reviewed.  In Thesis Management only the final revised thesis or dissertation needs to be uploaded.  This is the copy following examination, and after all corrections have been made.  This is also the copy that will be available on SUNScholar.

The User Guide for Thesis Management is available here.

For the most part, the workflow for Thesis management hasn’t changed.

To summarise the process:

  1. The final revised document must be submitted in PDF format.
  2. Log onto SUNStudent Academia.
  3. Click on Examinations, then click Thesis Management.
  4. The supervisor/promoter or administrative staff nominates the candidate.
  5. The thesis/dissertation is uploaded by the supervisor/promoter or administrative staff.
  6. The supervisor/promoter or administrative staff approves the submission.
  7. The thesis/dissertation will be publicly accessible on SUNScholar following graduation.

Due to the sensitive nature of security and ongoing enhancements to Thesis Management, the upload/submission of the final revised thesis or dissertation, must be done by the supervisor/promoter or administrative staff.

The final date for the submission of theses or dissertations for the December 2024 graduation is 28 November 2024.

Changes in the process

  • The Thesis Management function will remain open throughout the year.
  • It is compulsory for all master’s and doctoral students to complete this process for graduation.
  • Students will not be uploading any documents; this will be the responsibility of the nominator.
  • The process of nomination, submission and approval/rejection will take place on the same screen/programme.
  • The manual input of the student number will give a dropdown box of ALL postgraduate students within the faculty, ensure you ‘pick’ the correct student from the dropdown box.
  • The manual input of the supervisor/promotor staff number will give a dropdown box of ALL supervisors/promotors within the faculty, ensure you ‘pick’ the correct supervisor/promotor from the dropdown box.
  • Incorrect uploading of document(s) cannot be replaced after the submission process, so the process of nomination needs to be cancelled.
  • Only a cumulative maximum of 250 MB can be uploaded per student. Exceeding this threshold requires the user to send the document(s) to scholar@sun.ac.za.
  • Uploaded documents will remain visible to the staff member who did the nomination.
  • The discretion and security of uploaded documents remain with the department.
  • Thesis management will be ‘wiped’ clean after each graduation period.
  • The embargo period only goes up to three years. For extensions or moving from embargo to open access and vice versa, an email must be sent to scholar@sun.ac.za  to manually make the changes.  These changes will not be reflected in Thesis Management.

What remains

The recommendations and look and feel of the thesis document remain the same.  Such as the new SU title page, declaration page(s), abstract(s) and typesetting.  See the library help page, Thesis/Dissertation submission for templates.

Requesting Access to SUNStudent

Access will only be granted to SU staff and with the approval of their line manager.  Any user requesting access must get their line manager’s approval for the request to be processed.

Your access can be provisioned by following these steps:

  1. Please access the SUNStudent Service Desk here
  2. The tile marked “user access management” is the section that allows users to complete their user role access request

For enquiries about theses/dissertations submissions, please contact Paulette Talliard or scholar@sun.ac.za.

SU presentations at the IAML conference

​The International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres (IAML) is a global organisation that fosters the activities of music libraries, archives, and documentation centres. These efforts support projects in music bibliography, music documentation, and music library and information science at both national and international levels. A key component of IAML’s work is its annual international congress, which rotates among different countries each year, offering a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and the celebration of musical heritage.

This year the congress was held for the first time on African soil and it was organised by the Stellenbosch University Library and Information Service, in collaboration with representatives from the University of Cape Town. Delegates from 28 countries attended the congress. The programme included sessions on cataloguing and metadata, user experience and service development, historical and composer collections, church music, radio archives, digital collections, and the use of AI and machine learning in libraries, among other topics. The programme strongly emphasised African content, reflecting the continent’s diverse musical traditions and contemporary innovations. Sessions also covered colonial and post-colonial impacts, digital collections, music institutions, music encoding, indigenous and folk music and instruments, and popular culture in Africa. This thematic emphasis celebrated African musical heritage and fostered dialogue and collaboration among international and African scholars and practitioners.

In total about 107 presentations were presented during the week-long congress, with 11 presentations by Stellenbosch University:

  • Bridget Rennie-Salonen
    Illustrating transdisciplinary research innovation: Music, health, and wellbeing

  • Ingrid Gollom
    An overview of the life and career of South African concert pianist Lionel Charles Bowman (1919-2006) as compiled from the primary source material in the Lionel Bowman Collection (Stellenbosch University)

  • Anita Breckbill (University of Nebraska, Lincoln), Mnukwana Ncebakazi (Stellenbosch University)
    Freedom: Anders Nyberg and the Spread of Songs from South Africa

  • Jürgen May, Inge Engelbrecht, Anke Froehlich
    The Genadendal Music Archive (GMA): A Challenging Affair

  • Esther Pauw
    Curating a colonial archive: The Tamássy-Pauw flute and chamber scores collection

  • Amy Rommelspacher, Isabel Murray
    Tracing the history of a 1919-hymnbook in Malawi – a new reading of the DRC archival music collection

  • Prof Lizabé Lambrechts (Africa Open Institute for Music, Research and Innovation, Stellenbosch University) and Ms Saskia van der Want (Stellenbosch University)
    Making the invisible visible: Investigating the hidden life of fungi in the archive

  • Mieke Struwig
    The South African Music Encyclopedia: Perspectives from the Archive

  • Siviwe Bangani ( Library and Information Service)
    Demonstrating scholarly impact: acknowledgement of music libraries in students’ theses and dissertations in South Africa

  • Jonathan Hughes
    Settler Artefacts as Political Currency: Percival Kirby and a Chamber Organ by William Hill (c.1832)

  • Pakama Sbongile Ncume (Library and Information Service)
    Bringing the ‘hidden’ to the ‘public’: The case of Hidden Years Music Archive

Source

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