[pt] É constante o desafio das refinarias de petróleo na busca pela maximização da rentabilidade diante da natureza dinâmica das variáveis que afetam seus processos, como: demanda e especificações de produtos, qualidade de carga e preços de matéria-prima e derivados. Com a expectativa de mudanças nestas variáveis, um planejamento estratégico integrado para definir as necessidades de investimento em novas unidades de processo e ampliação de capacidade de unidades existentes pode contribuir para os melhores resultados do negócio de refino. Em face destas oportunidades e desafios, este trabalho propõe uma análise do planejamento de investimentos em refino, considerando o crescimento da demanda de diesel com ultra baixo teor de enxofre (S10) e também o crescimento plurianual da demanda de derivados, tendo como estudo de caso uma das maiores refinarias brasileiras. Como ferramenta de análise, foi utilizado um modelo matemático para planejamento integrado de refino de petróleo, que considera a otimização do planejamento operacional para definir as necessidades de investimento na refinaria, uma integração temporal, resultando em um modelo não linear inteiro misto (MINLP), cuja resolução utiliza uma lógica de decomposição em dois problemas integrados. Foi analisado o planejamento estratégico de refino, no horizonte de 19 anos e foram feitos vários cenários de demanda, com análises de sensibilidade para preços de petróleo e produtos, limite de importação e restrição de investimentos. Os resultados mostraram alinhamento com situação atual do mercado de derivados, com importação favorecida e com a expectativa de investimento mínimo em refino. / [en] It is a constant challenge for oil refineries the profitability maximization considering the dynamic nature of variables that affect their processes, such as demand and product specifications, feed quality and prices of raw materials and products. Expecting changes in such variables, an integrated strategic planning to define the needs for investment in new process units and capacity expansion of existing units can contribute to better results of the refining business. Given these opportunities and challenges, this dissertation proposes an analysis of refining investment planning, considering the increasing demand for ultralow sulfur diesel (S10) and also the multi-year growth of demand for oil products, performing a case study for one of the largest Brazilian refineries. As an analysis tool, it was used a mathematical model for integrated planning of oil refining, which considers the optimization of operational planning to set the investment needs in the refinery, a temporal integration, resulting in a mixed integer nonlinear model (MINLP), which resolution is based on a logic decomposition in two integrated problems. The strategic refining planning was analyzed on the 19 years horizon for different demand scenarios and some sensitivity analyses were carried out for oil and product prices, import limit and investment restrictions. The results were consistent with the current situation of the Brazilian derivatives market, characterized by favorable import and the minimum investment expected for refining.

Thesis (M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / The effective delivery of quality education depends, to a greater extent, on the quality of teachers. These teachers need to keep pace with the continuous growth of professional knowledge, skills and competences. This study evaluates teacher development programmes in Siyabuswa Circuit, Mpumalanga Province. Professional Learning Communities (PLC) is one of the initiatives that support and improve teacher knowledge and competences. Hence this study seeks to obtain teachers’ perspectives of the PLCs as a teacher development programme. This will probably shed more light into challenges faced by teachers in participating and benefitting from these developmental programmes. Scharmer (2009) states that when a new development unfolds, people may respond to it in two ways: they muddle through or fight back. Scharmer’s Theory U is thus reflected upon in this study as well to help explain and clarify these perspectives so that appropriate strategies can be found to improve teacher development and quality performance in turn.