Cette thèse en informatique se situe dans le domaine des Environnements Informatiques pour l'Apprentissage Humain (EIAH), et plus particulièrement au sein du projet AGATE (an Approach for Genericity in Assistance To complEx tasks) qui vise à proposer des modèles génériques et des outils unifiés pour permettre la mise en place de systèmes d'assistance dans des applications existantes. Dans ce projet, l'éditeur d'assistance SEPIA permet aux concepteurs d'assistance de définir un système d'assistance épiphyte grâce à des règles respectant le langage aLDEAS. Ce système d'assistance peut ensuite être exécuté par le moteur d'assistance de SEPIA pour fournir de l'assistance aux utilisateurs finaux sur les applications-cibles diverses. Dans le contexte éducatif, des enseignants peuvent souhaiter mettre en place des systèmes d'assistance pour compléter les logiciels pédagogiques ou non-pédagogiques utilisés par les apprenants. Des ingénieurs pédagogiques endossent donc le rôle de concepteurs d'assistance, alors que les apprenants sont les utilisateurs finaux des applications assistées. Notre thèse traite la problématique suivante : « Comment mettre en place un système d'assistance épiphyte en contexte éducatif en adoptant une approche générique ? Nous avons abordé cette problématique de recherche en deux étapes : tout d'abord l'étude d'assistances existantes au sein d'applications utilisées en contexte éducatif, puis l'exploitation et l'enrichissement des modèles et outils du projet AGATE pour les adapter au contexte éducatif. Dans un premier temps, nous avons étudié des applications variées utilisées par des enseignants au sein de leurs cours, ainsi que des travaux existants qui proposent des systèmes d'assistance. Nous avons ainsi identifié les caractéristiques de l'assistance, et nous les avons classées selon qu'elles permettent de proposer de l'assistance technique (utilisation de l'application, prise en main) ou de l'assistance pédagogique (feedbacks pédagogiques, guidage pédagogique). Nous avons ajouté à cette classification les différents modes de déroulement d'une assistance dans le contexte éducatif. Dans un second temps, nous avons confronté les modèles et outils proposés précédemment dans le projet AGATE aux caractéristiques de l'assistance ainsi identifiées dans le contexte éducatif. Les limites des modèles et outils précédents nous ont amené à proposer deux contributions au langage aLDEAS et au système SEPIA pour les adapter au contexte éducatif. Cette nouvelle version de SEPIA adaptée au contexte éducatif est nommée SEPIA-edu. La première limite concernait la complexité de définition de systèmes d'assistance variés en termes de déroulement. Que ce soit dans un contexte éducatif ou non, il est important de pouvoir définir facilement et de manière explicite plusieurs modes d'articulation entre les différents éléments d'un système d'assistance. Nous avons donc proposé un modèle d'articulation entre les règles aLDEAS explicitant le déroulement d'une assistance et permettant de définir des systèmes d'assistance comprenant des éléments qui se déroulent de manière successive, interactive, simultanée, progressive, indépendante. Nous avons associé à ce modèle un processus d'application automatique des contraintes des modes d'articulation aux règles qui permet de générer et/ou modifier automatiquement les règles aLDEAS en faisant en sorte qu'elles soient toujours compatibles avec le moteur d'exécution d'assistance de SEPIA. Ce modèle et ce processus ont été implémentés dans SEPIA-edu. La seconde limite est propre au domaine éducatif. Elle concernait la complexité à définir un guidage pédagogique proposant un parcours entre différentes activités au sein d'une application existante. Nous avons tout d'abord proposé un modèle d'activité permettant de délimiter les activités au sein des applications... / This thesis in computer science take place in the ILE domain (Interactive Learning Environment) and was realized within the AGATE project (an Approach for Genericity in Assistance To complEx tasks) that aims at proposing generic models and unified tools to make possible the setup of assistance systems in various existing applications. In this project, an assistance editor allows assistance designers to define assistance systems and a generic assistance engine executes these assistance systems on the various target-applications without disturbing them to help final users. These assistance systems are defined by the assistance rules that respect the aLDEAS language. In the educational context, teachers can want to set up assistance system to complete the pedagogical or non-pedagogical software used by learners. Pedagogical engineers therefore have the role of assistance designers and learners are end-users of such assisted applications. Our PhD thesis address the following research question: “How to set up an epiphytic assistance system in the educational context by adopting a generic approach?” In order to answer this research question, we realized this thesis in two steps: first, the study of existing assistances within applications used in the educational context, then the exploitation and enrichment of models and tools of the AGATE project to adapt them to the educational context. In the first step, we studied the applications used by teachers in their courses as well as existing works proposing assistance system. We identified the characteristics of assistance, and classified them by the way they propose the technical assistance (use, handling of applications) and the pedagogical assistance (pedagogical feedback, pedagogical guidance) as well as different modes to sequence assistance elements in the educational context. In the second step, we confronted the models and tools proposed previously in the AGATE project to the characteristics of the assistance identified in educational context. The limitations of the previous models and tools led us to propose two contributions to the aLDEAS language and the SEPIA system in order to adapt them to the educational context. The first limitation relates to the complex definition of various assistance systems in terms of sequence of assistance elements. Whether in an educational context or not, it is important to be able to define easily and explicitly several modes of articulation between the different elements of an assistance system. We therefore proposed a model of articulation between aLDEAS rules in five modes: successive, interactive, simultaneous, progressive, independent. We associated this model with a process of automatic application of constraints of the articulation modes to the rules. This process makes it possible to automatically generate and / or modify the aLDEAS rules by making sure that they are always compatible with the execution of SEPIA assistance engine. This model and this process have been implemented in SEPIA-edu. The second limitation is specific to the educational context. It concerns the complex definition of a pedagogical guidance proposing different learning activities within an existing application. We first proposed an activity model to delimit activities within applications. Then, a pedagogical guidance model allows to define different types of pedagogical guidance (free, sequential, contextualized, temporal, personalized). A pedagogical guidance pattern was proposed to define a composed pedagogical guidance which can combine several types of pedagogical guidance. Finally, a process of the transformation of a pedagogical guidance into aLDEAS rules allows to automatically generate and modify aLDEAS rules. This model of activity, this pedagogical guidance pattern and this process have been implemented in SEPIA-edu

Este estudo, realizado em um hospital geral e privado, teve como objetivos identificar problemas apresentados pelos pacientes cirúrgicos após a alta hospitalar, correlacioná-los com a assistência perioperatória e discutir ações possíveis pela enfermagem para a melhoria da evolução dos pacientes após a alta hospitalar. A população foi constituída de 112 pacientes submetidos a cirurgias eletivas no período de março a maio de 2004. Os dados foram obtidos dos prontuários e de entrevista com os pacientes, buscando informações sobre problemas apresentados e aspectos da assistência prestada referentes a: cirurgia, anestesia, preparo pré-operatório, períodos de permanência hospitalar pré e pós-operatória, visitas pré e pós-operatórias dos profissionais relacionados ao processo cirúrgico, momento das visitas, orientações recebidas para alta, entre outros. Os resultados mostraram que 69,6% dos pacientes relataram problemas, relacionados a alterações emocionais e fisiológicas e dúvidas. O mais freqüente referiu-se à ferida cirúrgica, que correspondeu às principais queixas relatadas. Dentre os problemas, 5,3% demandou re-internação. Os resultados referentes à assistência perioperatória apontam relação de alguns fatores com os problemas relatados. As orientações para a alta mostraram-se incompletas. Considerou-se que, na maioria dos casos, os períodos de permanência hospitalar pré e pós-operatórias são curtos e não favorecem momentos e locais formais para o preparo, avaliação e orientações ao paciente. O período pós-operatório é ainda mais curto, pelo tempo demandado para a recuperação anestésica que, neste estudo, predominaram aquelas mais complexas. Houve associação significativa entre período pós e tipo de anestesia. Não foram todos os pacientes que receberam visitas, nestas fases, por profissionais diretamente envolvidos com processo cirúrgico e, dentre os que receberam, foram significativas aquelas realizadas apenas no centro cirúrgico, principalmente entre os anestesiologistas. Os problemas após a alta que demandaram internação ocorreram em pacientes que não receberam visita pré-operatória pelo cirurgião e anestesiologista. Os pacientes só retornam ao hospital quando complicações já ocorreram. A alta do processo cirúrgico, portanto, ocorre no consultório do cirurgião e o hospital não tem condições de participar na prevenção dos problemas após a alta. Com o avanço da tecnologia, o processo cirúrgico se modificou. As intervenções cirúrgicas são cada vez mais rápidas, permitindo o restabelecimento em menor tempo. Por outro lado, o processo cirúrgico tem sido realizado em vários locais, além do hospital, podendo determinar “vácuos" nas etapas da assistência perioperatória e favorecer problemas, tanto durante a fase transoperatória quanto pós-operatória. Configura-se a necessidade de novas estratégias assistenciais que garantam a integralidade deste processo. E a enfermagem pode ser uma destas estratégias, como elo de integração entre paciente/família/hospital/médico. A determinação de momentos formais para avaliação e orientações ao paciente, tanto na fase pré-operatória quanto pós-operatória, deve ser considerada, visando atender às expectativas e necessidades dos pacientes como demonstrado neste estudo / This study, carried through in a general and private hospital, aimed at identifying problems presented by the surgical patients after being released from the hospital, connecting them with the perioperative assistance and discuss possible nursing actions for the improvement of the patients´ evolution after hospital release. The population was composed of 112 patients submitted to elective surgeries in the period from March to May, 2004. The data had been obtained from the patients´ records and from interviews with the patients, searching information on the problems presented and aspects of the assistance given referring to: surgery, anesthesia, preoperative preparation, pre and after operative periods of hospital staying, pre and after daily visits from the professionals related to the surgical process, time of the visits, guidances received for hospital release, among others. The results had shown that 69.6% of the patients presented problems, related to the emotional and physiological alterations and doubts. The most frequent referred to the surgical wound, which corresponded to most of the related complaints. Amongst the problems, 5.3% demanded re-hospitalization. The results concerning the perioperative assistance indicate a relation of some factors with the stated problems. The releasing guidances had revealed incomplete. In most of the cases it was considered that the pre and after operative periods of hospital staying are short and do not support formal moments and places for the preparation, evaluation and guidances to the patient. The after surgical period is still shorter, due to the time demanded for the anesthetical recovery which, in this study, the most complex ones had predominated. There was a significant association between the after operative period and type of anesthesia. In those phases, not all the patients had received visits from the professionals directly involved with surgical process and, amongst those who received, most of them were carried through only in the operating room, mainly amongst the anesthesiologists. The problems presented after the release that demanded hospitalization had occurred in patients who had not received preoperative and the anesthesiologist´s daily visit. The patient only come back to the hospital when complications had already occurred. Therefore, the surgical process release occurs in the surgeon\'s office, and the hospital has no conditions to take part into preventing the problems after the release. With the advance of the technology, the operative process has been altered. Surgical interventions have been faster over and over, allowing the recovery in lesser time. On the other hand, the surgical process has been carried through in some places, besides the hospital, being able to determine the \"chasms\" in the perioperative assistance stages, and fomenting problems, not only during the transoperative period, as well as during the after surgical one. The need for new assistencial strategies was noticed, which would guarantee the completeness of this process. And nursing can be one of those strategies, as a link of integration between patient/family/hospital/surgeon. The determination of the patient´s formal moments for evaluation and guidances, not only during the pre and after surgical phases, must be considered, aiming at answering the patients´ expectations and needs as shown in this study

Xue, Cheng. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 159-167). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts and appendix also in Chinese.

作為一種新型扶貧手段，小額信貸產業在過去三十年中於發展中國家迅速興起。從業者常常聲稱小額信貸機構能夠為貧窮農民提供金融機會，而這些弱勢群體過去往往被排除在傳統金融機構之外；與此同時，不同於以往的扶貧手段，小額信貸機構被認為能夠在財務上達到平衡乃至盈利。這種雙重目標的前景吸引了許多發展中國家的興趣，因此，小額信貸產業作為解決貧困問題的一種嘗試而在國際舞台上獲得了迅猛的發展。 / 由於中國獨特的社會和政治環境，小額信貸機構的發展有其特殊的軌跡。本研究以深入訪談和參與式觀察為主要研究方法，通過為期三個月的田野調查，對中國西部與北部的兩個非政府小額信貸組織進行了深入考察。研究發現，小額信貸組織正面臨無法同時達成雙重目標的困境；基於觀察與資料分析，本文提出，中國農村社區信任結構的轉型是小額信貸組織面臨多重問題的主要原因。隨著市場經濟的發展與城市化的加速，在日漸瓦解的熟人社會中，小額信貸機構的社會目標被其財務目標所壓制，導致原有的扶貧、婦女賦權等目標難以達成，更形成了目標替代的組織現象。 / 為深入探討小額信貸產業中目標替代的現象，本文從組織目標的合法性與可測量性兩個角度提出假設，指出當邊緣目標具有強烈的合法性和直觀的可測量性，便可能取代相對難以觀測的核心目標。最後，本文指出，為保證小額信貸組織不偏離原有的社會目標，需要設計一種新型的、獨立的測量工具，用以跟踪記錄小額信貸組織的社會影響，並將其作為判斷組織表現的核心因素。 / Known as an innovative tool for poverty alleviation, microfinance has been widely spread in developing countries in the past few decades. It is commonly claimed that microfinance institutions (MFIs) can provide financial opportunities to those who are unable to obtain loans from the formal system, while at the same time maintain their institutional sustainability. This promise has attracted the interest of developing countries with large population in poverty, leading to a remarkable emergence of microfinance industry on the global stage. / Because of the special social and political environment, the development of MFIs in China has its unique trajectory. Based on interviews and participant observation, this three-month research focuses on two non-governmental MFIs in Western China and Northern China, revealing a plight of infeasible dual objectives and proposing an explanation from the angle of transformed trust structure. In a collapsing acquaintance community, the social objectives are suppressed by the demands of self-sustainability, thus violating the original intention of poverty alleviation and women empowerment, and leading to a phenomenon of goal displacement. / To further discuss the logic behind the goal displacement phenomenon in microfinance industry, two propositions are suggested from the angles of legitimacy and measurability of organizational goals. The findings indicate that to ensure the social objective of MFIs, an independent evaluation system is needed to track the social impacts and better assess organizational performances in microfinance industry. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Liu, Ran. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-74). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2. --- Trust and its Transformation --- p.4 / Chapter 3. --- Debates on Microfinance --- p.11 / Chapter 3.1 --- Development of global microfinance --- p.11 / Chapter 3.2 --- Microfinance in China --- p.18 / Chapter 4. --- Research Settings and Methodology --- p.23 / Chapter 4.1 --- Methodology and Limitations --- p.23 / Chapter 4.2 --- Brief introduction of association A --- p.25 / Chapter 4.3 --- Brief introduction of association B --- p.27 / Chapter 5. --- Microfinance and the Transformation of Trust --- p.29 / Chapter 5.1 --- Urbanization and the transition of clients --- p.29 / Chapter 5.2 --- The Failure of group-lending model --- p.37 / Chapter 5.3 --- The decoupling between practices and regulations --- p.42 / Chapter 5.4 --- Target shift and goal displacement --- p.47 / Chapter 6. --- Discussion: Dual Objectives and Goal Displacement --- p.51 / Chapter 6.1 --- Multiple organizational goals of MFIs --- p.51 / Chapter 6.2 --- Proposition 1: Sustainability as a legitimate goal --- p.55 / Chapter 6.3 --- Proposition 2: Sustainability as a practical goal --- p.58 / Chapter 7. --- Conclusion --- p.62 / References --- p.65 / Chapter Appendix: --- Information of Interviewees --- p.75

Cœur d’un secteur tertiaire à l’influence économique majeure, les prestations de services souffrent pourtant incontestablement d’un manque de repères juridiques. Ainsi, en dépit de leur impact sur le quotidien des individus, des entreprises et des collectivités, le droit ne s’est que peu intéressé au sens même des services et ce, qu’ils soient rémunérés ou non. Dans la première hypothèse, la notion est même ignorée puisqu’il revient à des « mécanisme-tampon » historiques, contrat d’entreprise et mandat notamment, d’assurer l’intégration juridique de ces opérations. Par conséquent, exceptions faites des quelques frémissements observés en droit interne ou supranational, les éléments permettant l’acception des prestations de services se font rares. Il a de ce fait paru nécessaire d’en élaborer une définition apte à en faire ressortir la substance. Celle-ci est dominée par l’activité et fondée sur l’obligation latine aujourd’hui délaissée (car méconnue) de praestare (fournir). Exécuter une prestation de services c’est fournir son activité à autrui, la mettre à sa disposition en vue d’un résultat déterminé. C’est donc créer un lien entre des personnes (prestataire – bénéficiaire), construit sur un objet (l’activité) et tourné vers une finalité (le résultat). Mais ce lien semble en question dès lors qu’est introduit un élément particulier : la gratuité. Appréciée mais suspecte, crainte au moins autant qu’elle n’est attractive, celle-ci n’a bénéficié que d’une considération juridique limitée naissant de son anormalité présumée. Ainsi, donner ou agir sans contrepartie a toujours été dédaigné ou pire, mal vu. Dans l’ombre de l’onéreux, et partant, de la contrepartie dans le Code civil, l’opération altruiste a donc du se contenter d’une exposition juridique minimale. Lorsqu’il s’agit de s’intéresser aux situations d’assistance (entraide et secours-sauvetage, aide bénévole à autrui), le droit civil, par l’intermédiaire de sa jurisprudence, se montre hésitant et peine à trouver une réponse adaptée à ces actes désintéressés. La matière doit par conséquent être gagnée par un changement de philosophie et par une évolution des moyens. Le droit civil doit s’évertuer à changer son regard sur l’assistance en passant d’une vision mono-centrée a posteriori (gestion des conséquences / responsabilité) à une conception diversifiée a priori (détermination de natures et de régimes adaptés). Le législateur pourrait à cette fin mettre à disposition des juges des instruments originaux, les contrat et quasi-contrats de prestation de services gratuites, sources potentielles de nouvel équilibre entre les intérêts en présence et de cohabitation harmonieuse de la gratuité et des prestations de services en droit civil. / Heart of the tertiary sector which has major influence on modern economy, service delivery undoubtedly suffers from a lack of legal guidance. Thus, despite the impact of services on the lives of individuals, businesses and communities, the law has only limited interest in their meaning, whether paid or unpaid. In the first case, the concept is even ignored since it falls to "buffer mechanisms", contrat d’entreprise (service contract) and mandat (mandatum/mandate) in particular, to ensure the legal integration of these operations. Except for a few tremors observed in domestic law or supranational law, elements for a definition of services are rare. It therefore seemed necessary to bring out a suitable one. It is dominated by the activity and based on the latin obligation now abandoned of praestare (provide). Service delivery is matter of activity, provided for achieving a defined objective. It’s a link between people (provider - recipient), built on an object (the activity) and turned towards a fixed purpose (the result). But the legal nature of the link created is at issue when it comes to gratuity. Appreciated but suspect, at least as much feared that it is attractive, the latter has received only limited legal consideration. Give or take action without consideration has been scorned or worse, frowned upon. In the shadow of the consideration in the Civil Code, altruistic operations have had to settle for a minimum of legal exposure. While their existence on a daily basis is indisputable (assistance between people), their few common legal areas of expression have been shrunk (decline of gratuity in mandate and deposit) or are contested by the notion of interest which appears in various forms (marine rescue, entraide agricole (agricultural mutual support)). Moreover, when it comes to interest in situations of assistance (mutual aid and emergency-rescue volunteer help to others), civil law, through its jurisprudence, appears hesitant and struggles to find an appropriate response to these selfless acts.Thus, civil law must strive to change its philosophy and means. Change his view of assistance by moving from a mono-centric afterwards vision (civil liability) to a diversified a priori conception (determination of appropriate types and legal frameworks). The legislator should provide the judges original instruments, free service delivery contract and quasi-contracts, potential sources of a new balance between provider and recipient, as well as harmonious coexistence of gratuity and services in civil law.

Cette thèse a pour objet la régulation de la pauvreté au Brésil dans le cadre du Programme « Bolsa Família », une politique sociale de transferts conditionnels de revenus qui cristallise de manière exemplaire le débat et l’expérience vécue de la pauvreté au Brésil. On y explique comment les mécanismes de régulation de la pauvreté interagissent avec les pratiques locales de citoyenneté. En effet, l’accès des pauvres aux droits sociaux et l’exercice de leurs droits politiques sont l’objet d’un processus de régulation par les valeurs familiales dans un contexte de fortes inégalités sociales. Au-delà du fait que l’aide sociale dépende de l’organisation familiale, la mise en œuvre du Programme « Bolsa Família » se fait selon des règles informelles, reflétant les représentations sociales dominantes de la pauvreté au Brésil. De plus, l’octroi des allocations sociales dépend en partie de rapports personnels entre les bénéficiaires et les élus et les candidats politiques. Ces relations varient selon un répertoire d’évaluation des candidats politiques par les bénéficiaires du programme. Ce travail s’appuie sur une étude de cas dans la région Nordeste du Brésil — dans une municipalité moyenne de l’État du Ceará. Une approche ethnographique a permis l’identification de la logique de fonctionnement d’une machine politico-électorale impliquant assistance sociale, élus, assistantes sociales et bénéficiaires. De façon plus générale, cette thèse étudie les interactions qui lient les pauvres à l’ensemble de la société, sous l’angle localisé des enjeux contemporains de la régulation de la pauvreté, et contribue à l’étude de l’utilisation politico-électorale de l’assistance sociale. / This thesis’ object is the poverty regulation in Brazil within the framework of the ‘Bolsa Família’ Programme, a conditional cash transfer social policy assembling several elements of the debate and the experience of poverty in Brazil. This work explains how the mechanisms of poverty regulation interact with local citizenship practices. In effect, the access of the poor to social rights and the exercise of their political rights are both object of a process of regulation by family values ​​in a context of strong social inequalities. Beyond the fact that social assistance depends on family organisation, the implementation of the ‘Bolsa Família’ Programme is based on informal rules, reflecting the dominant social representations of poverty in Brazil. In addition, the allocation of social benefits depends in part on personalised rapports between the programme’s beneficiaries and political candidates and elected representatives. This work is based on a case study in the Northeast region of Brazil—in a middle-sized municipality of the Ceará state. An ethnographic approach allowed the identification of the logic of operation of a political machine involving social assistance, elected officials, social workers and beneficiaries. More generally, this thesis examines the interactions between the poor and the society as a whole, from a local perspective of contemporary issues of poverty regulation and contributes to the study of the political and electoral use of social assistance.

Thesis. 1976. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Political Science. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Dewey. / Vita. / Bibliography: leaves 294-300. / Ph.D.

A tese propõe-se a analisar e a interpretar a representação social do usuário sobre a assistência social. Para tanto, foi utilizada a metodologia dos círculos epistemológicos, inspirados na teoria pedagógica dos círculos de cultura de Paulo Freire, que procura superar a dicotomia entre pesquisador-pesquisando. Como nos círculos de cultura, os pesquisandos participam ativamente do processo de pesquisa. Foram realizados nove círculos epistemológicos com os usuários, em três Centros de Referência de Assistência Social – CRAS de Porto Alegre RS, três em cada CRAS. Após a realização dos nove círculos epistemológicos, todas as informações foram transcritas, lidas, categorizadas a partir de sua dimensão semântica e analisadas à luz da Teoria das Representações Sociais. Da análise dos dados, foram construídos mapas representacionais com as categorias e subcategorias que revelaram os elementos centrais que constituem tal representação. Os resultados foram interpretados a partir de aportes teóricos de autores que trabalharam temáticas ligadas à assistência social. As contribuições dos usuários pesquisandos foram levadas em consideração na produção final da tese. A tese compõe-se de quatro capítulos organizados em forma de artigo. O primeiro apresenta o referencial teórico das representações sociais e discute a metodologia dos círculos epistemológicos mostrando as conexões entre eles. O segundo artigo, também teórico, trata da formação do Estado brasileiro e como sua estruturação influenciou as políticas de assistência social. O terceiro apresenta os resultados empíricos da representação social da assistência social na perspectiva dos usuários. Tal representação apresenta-se como contraditória revelando duas dimensões centrais, uma ideológica e outra crítica. No quarto e último artigo, também empírico, é enfatizada uma dimensão específica da representação social que se destacou das informações colhidas e que se julgou oportuno aprofundá-la: a representação social que os usuários revelaram sobre si mesmos. Tal representação revelou duas dimensões contraditórias, mas inter-relacionadas: por um lado os usuários discriminam-se como “bons” e “maus”; por outro, se reconhecem como iguais pertencentes a um mesmo grupo social e deixam entrever sinais de solidariedade, que oferece condições para a emergência de uma cidadania para além dos direitos. / The dissertation proposes to analyze and interpret the social representation of the user about social assistance. The methodology of epistemological circles inspired by the educational theory of cultural circles of Paulo Freire was used, which seeks to overcome the dichotomy between researcher and research subject. As in the circles of culture, the research subjects actively participate in the research process. Nine epistemological circles were conducted with users in three reference centers of Social Assistance-CRAS of Porto Alegre RS, three in each CRAS. After the completion of the nine epistemological circles , all the information was transcribed, read, categorized from its semantic dimension and analyzed in the light of the theory of social representations. From the data analysis, representational maps were constructed with the categories and subcategories which revealed the central elements that constitute such representation. The results were interpreted from theoretical contributions of authors who worked on welfare-related themes. Research subject users ' contributions were taken into consideration in the production end of the dissertation. The dissertation consists of four chapters arranged in article form. The first presents the theoretical framework of social representations and discusses the methodology of the epistemological circles demonstrating the connections between them. The second article, also theoretical, deals with the formation of the Brazilian State and how its structure influenced the policies of social assistance. The third presents the empirical results of social representation of social assistance from the perspective of the users. Such representation is presented as contradictory revealing two central dimensions, an ideological one and another critical one. In the fourth and last article, also empirical, emphasized a specific dimension of social representation that stood out from the information collected which was deemed appropriate to deepen into: social representation that users reveal about themselves. Such representation revealed two contradictory but interrelated dimensions: on the one hand users discriminate as "good" and "bad"; on the other, recognize each other as equals belonging to the same social group and they see signs of solidarity, which provides conditions for the emergence of a citizenship beyond rights.

Le Cameroun accède à l’indépendance le 1er janvier 1960. Le 13 novembre 1960, la France signe avec le Cameroun une série d’accords de coopération qui couvrent divers domaines tant civils que militaire. En observant cette série d’accords de coopération, l’on se rend compte que le volet culturel occupe les ¾ de la coopération franco-camerounaise depuis 1960. Ce sujet ne traite pas de la coopération franco-camerounaise en général, mais des volets culturels, contenus dans la convention culturelle franco-camerounaise, qui est la base juridique de ces relations. Les relations culturelles franco-camerounaises ont évolué en dents de scie ; tantôt denses et chaleureuses [décennie 60 et 90], tantôt froides et tendues [70-80]. Ceci s’explique par les enjeux qui entourent ces relations culturelles. Pour la France, la culture reste l’instrument fondamental de sa politique étrangère. Les objectifs sont la diffusion de la culture française par : la langue française à travers les instruments classiques que sont les centres culturels français et les alliances franco-camerounais., la présence audio-visuelle française dans le monde à travers des médias tels TV5, RFI et CFI. Pendant la guerre froide, l’objectif principal était d’éviter que ne tombent certains Etats de son pré carré sous l’influence de l’un où l’autre bloc. A partir des années 90, la France intensifie son action culturelle au Cameroun, principalement pour faire front à la montée en puissance des anglo-saxons. Elle initie un combat en faveur de l’exception culturelle dans le cadre de la Francophonie. Côté camerounais, l’influence culturelle française a toujours été vue d’un regard méfiant. Tolérée sous Ahidjo pour des besoins de sécurité intérieure, ce dernier prend ses distances dès lors que l’unité et la stabilité du Cameroun sont assurées en 1972. Sous Biya, après des débuts plutôt froids dans la décennie 80, les relations culturelles franco-camerounaises connaissent depuis les années 90 leur apogée. Ceci est dû à la fin de la guerre froide, au retour du Cameroun dans la communauté francophone en 1991, à la crise économique, aux Etats généraux de la culture et de l’éducation nationale et surtout aux pressions américaines pour des questions démocratiques au Cameroun. Les relations culturelles franco-camerounaises touchent des volets divers comme l’assistance technique, l’enseignement supérieur, l’éducation, les activités culturelles. Le Cameroun fait partie de la Zone de solidarité prioritaire [ZSP] et bénéficie dont d’un caractère préférentiel dans la politique culturelle extérieure de la France. / Cameroon reaches the independence on January 1st, 1960. On November 13th, 1960, France and Cameroon signed a series of agreements of cooperation which covered diverse domains so civil as military. By observing this series of agreements of cooperation, we realize that the cultural part occupies ¾ some French-Cameroonian cooperation since 1960. This subject does not deal with the French-Cameroonian cooperation generally, but the cultural parts, contained in the French-Cameroonian cultural agreement [convention], which is the legal base of these relations. The French-Cameroonian cultural relations evolved uneven; sometimes dense and warm [decade 60 and 90], sometimes cold and tense [70-80]. This explains by the stakes which surround these cultural relations. For France, the culture remains the fundamental instrument of its foreign policy. The objectives are the diffusion of the French cultural influence by: the French language, through the classic instruments that are the French cultural centers and the French-Cameroonian alliances. The French broadcastin [audivisual] presence in the world through media such as TV5, RFI and CFI. During the cold war, the main objective was to avoid that fall certain africans states squared under the influence of the one or the other block.. In Cameroonian side, the French cultural influence was always seen by a suspicious glance. Tolerated under Ahidjo for needs of internal safety [security], he distances oneself since the unity and the stability of Cameroon was insured in 1972. Under Biya, after debuts rather cold in the decade 80, the French-Cameroonian cultural relations know since the 90s their peak. This is due to the end of the cold war, on the return of Cameroon in the French-speaking community in 1991, the economic crisis, in the general States of the culture and the Education and especially in American pressures for democratic questions in Cameroon. The French-Cameroonian cultural relations touch diverse sectors as the technical support, the higher education, the education, the cultural activities. Cameroon is a part of the Zone of priority solidarity [ ZSP] and benefits from preferential character in the outside cultural policy of France. But these cultural relations have perverse effects in Cameroon, in term of acculturation, in spite of the role played by the general states of the culture and the education. Finally, in spite of some positive points as the linguistic unity which played a role in the national integration in Cameroon, Cameroonians judge badly the intense French culturals activities in Cameroon.

Thesis (MDev. ) -- University of Limpopo, 2011 / The provision of Employee Assistance Programme in a working environment such as a municipality is very crucial. In order to determine the effectiveness of the implementation of the programme to justify its existence to the outside world and to assess the impact of its fulfilment to its objectives, evaluation is therefore necessary. The aim of this research study was to ascertain the implementation of the EAP at the Makhado Municipality in Vhembe District with special focus on the employees’ awareness of the programme, its utilization and also the programme adequacy. A qualitative approach was used in this study. Forty two (42) employees of various ranks or level’s in the municipality were randomly selected to participate in the study, and they were from all the four main centres of the municipality i.e. Makhado, Waterval, Dzanani and Vuwani. Summary of the Main Findings A high percentage (81%) of the employees knew of the existence of an EAP within the municipality, and meetings appeared to be the main awareness strategy. − The attitudes of employees towards the EAP were positive, this state of affairs points to the usefulness of the EAP service. − The EAP provided by the Municipality was viewed as accessible by the majority of employees. − The utilization rate of the EAP in the Municipality was very low as only 17% of respondents indicated that they had utilized the service before. − The majority of referrals were conducted by supervisors while only 9.1% were self referral. The majority of respondents did not answer the question implying various reason/s and could also mean lack or poor knowledge and information about referrals within the programme. (iv Implementation of the EAP at Makhado Municipality in Limpopo Province − The majority of employees did not respond to the question on whether they were satisfied with the EAP within the municipality, and that could translate into low knowledge and information about the programme. − The majority of employees were generally happy with the current location of EAP in the municipality. − The majority of employees viewed EAP as confidential and the level of trust in the EAP staff was high. − The majority of employees were not aware of the EAP policy and never participated in its formulation. − The majority of employees felt that EAP services were useful, and this means that provision of proper information might encourage employees to use the service. − Most employees suggested that frequent dissemination of information to employees through meetings, workshops and other regular contact sessions could enhance the EAP in the municipality. Recommendations The following recommendations with regard to the employees’ familiarity with the EAP are important: o That more awareness sessions be conducted with all employees, especially those at regions unit so that adequate information is cascaded to all employees of the municipality. o The awareness sessions should be conducted at least quarterly involving all regions, and the EAP Advisory Committee should meet at least bi-monthly to discuss aspects to improve and enhance EAP services in the municipality. o It is also recommended that additional qualified EAP personnel, with at least minimum qualifications in Social Work and, or Social Psychology, or any relevant (v Implementation of the EAP at Makhado Municipality in Limpopo Province qualifications and experience in EAP be appointed to run the programme on full-time basis. o That evaluation of the programme implementation should be conducted using the participatory strategies such as suggestion boxes, arranging focus groups and bench-marking with other institutions. The recommendation to allow employees opportunities to submit suggestions, in-puts and give feedback regarding the programme will no doubt assist in the improvement and promotion of the programme. o The Makhado Municipality should utilize different marketing strategies as recommended by EAP literature, such as the following: i. The use of promotional material such as brochures, leaflets, and posters that are user-friendly and in languages understandable by all employees of the municipality. ii. Outreach programmes: The EAP unit needs to regularly visit all the regional offices of the municipality in order to intensify information sharing to employees about the EAP. These can also include decentralising EAP workshops to the periphery offices in order to reach the employees who are far away from the head office in Louis Trichardt. The above-mentioned could serve as effective strategies in promoting and maximising the visibility of the EAP, and may close the gap on information not reaching all employees in the municipality thereby increasing its penetration rate.