AOSIS scholarly books

Understanding systems of innovation in Africa

2026-01-06T08:29:40+02:00

This groundbreaking edited volume offers a fresh and critical perspective on innovation in Africa, challenging conventional, technocentric interpretations of national systems of innovation (NSI). Moving beyond the narrow focus on science, technology and formal institutions, the book adopts a political economy approach that incorporates both formal and informal sectors as well as socio-economic and political dynamics.

Through rich theoretical insights and compelling case studies from South Africa and other African contexts, the book demonstrates how innovation is often driven by informal economies and non-technological elements that have been historically sidelined in mainstream discourse. It also examines pressing contemporary issues such as ecological degradation, climate change, green energy transitions, and sub-national innovation ecosystems, offering practical policy recommendations for inclusive science, technology and innovation (STI) development.

Anchoring its analysis in a novel understanding of post-colonial African economies, the book provides a heterodox approach to NSI that is highly relevant for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners interested in economic development, innovation policy, and sustainable, inclusive growth.

Local economic development

2025-12-17T08:14:49+02:00

This fifth volume in the Centre for Local Economic Development (CENLED) series offers a timely exploration of how innovation, new technologies and sustainable practices can drive local economic development in South Africa and across the Global South. Combining rigorous research with practical insights, this book presents fresh empirical evidence and underrepresented perspectives that challenge mainstream development narratives, highlighting the complex, multifaceted nature of sustainable growth.

Through ten carefully crafted chapters, readers explore diverse economic sectors and disciplines, discovering how greener economies can be built through circular economy principles, conservation initiatives and socially inclusive approaches that leverage music, digital platforms and community engagement. The book emphasises the transformative potential of transitioning away from fossil fuels, demonstrating how sustainable innovation can simultaneously generate employment, strengthen local resilience and protect the environment for future generations.

A distinctive feature of this volume is its interdisciplinary approach, bringing together insights from governance, public expenditure, higher education and emerging industries such as cannabis farming. By examining topics such as trust in government, corruption and the role of higher education institutions in fostering regional innovation, the authors provide a holistic view of the drivers and barriers to sustainable local economic development. Each chapter offers actionable strategies, helping policymakers, researchers and practitioners understand how to harness new technologies and green practices to promote inclusive economic growth while addressing social and environmental challenges.

Going beyond theory, the book provides scientifically grounded frameworks for understanding how sustainable innovation can enhance competitiveness, attract investment and open new market opportunities for African economies. It equips scholars, academics, professionals and students with the knowledge needed to advance sustainable development goals, stimulate economic growth and improve the quality of life for communities across the region.

Rich in conceptual depth and interdisciplinary insight, this volume is an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to understand the intersection of innovation, technology and sustainability in building resilient, environmentally conscious local economies in Africa and beyond.

Empowering 21st-century skilled teachers

2025-12-15T09:28:44+02:00

Empowering 21st-century skilled teachers: A holistic approach brings together original research from scholars at the Faculty of Education at North-West University in South Africa, examining how teachers can be holistically prepared for the demands of contemporary and future classrooms. This scholarly book explores how pre-service and in-service teachers can be equipped to develop and teach 21st-century skills, navigate emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, Thinking Maps^®, open educational resources (OERs), etc., and address issues of social justice and diversity, offering new contributions to scholarship on holistic teacher education in varied South African contexts.

The volume covers themes ranging from ethics of care and education law to innovative, discipline-specific didactics in Mathematics education, History education, Accounting education, Afrikaans, English and Sesotho language education. Across these areas, the chapters foreground key competencies such as self-directed learning, play-based pedagogies, critical thinking, mathematical noticing and other essential 21st-century competencies needed for effective teaching in inclusive classrooms.

The research employs a range of mixed methodologies, including exploratory and experimental designs, case studies, systematic reviews, educational design research, and participatory action learning and action research (PALAR), providing a holistic and practice-informed perspective on teacher development.

Aimed at scholars and researchers in teacher education, didactics, education ethics, education law, self-directed learning and emerging pedagogies, this volume provides a substantial and original contribution to knowledge. It serves as a comprehensive resource for academics investigating how to prepare teachers for the complexities of 21st-century and future learning environments.