Under apartheid in South Africa a large portion of our society was been denied access to science education. This has led to a generally low public understanding of science and a poor scientific skills level, which has a negative impact on our country's economic growth. In a world that is increasingly hi-tech and relies on technology for day-to-day living, this lack in science knowledge and technology is alarming (The Presidency, 2006:9). A poor knowledge of science hampers people's ability to actively participate in a democratic society and produces a future generation that is scientifically illiterate. A large part of our population needs to be more scientifically literate but this situation cannot be rectified by purely improving school science education. For this reason the Department of Science and Technology has proposed a network of science centres across South Africa. This network consists of flagship science centres in all the major cities, which support smaller science centres in outlying areas. The aim is to increase people's access to science and technology in a non-threatening environment that appeals to all ages. The purpose of this research is to look at the method proposed by the Department of Science and Technology to improve the current situation - a network of science centres. The research investigates the philosophies and aims of science centres and the architectural responses necessary to accommodate these. This study focuses on the architectural response of a science centre for Durban. The aim of the study is to generate architectural recommendations to guide and inform the design of a science centre for Durban. / Thesis (M.Arch)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

Thesis (M.U.R.P. 1980) from the Department of Architecture, University of Adelaide.

This thesis reports on research carried out in five Neighbourhood Houses in a disadvantaged area. The main aims of the research are two-fold and inter-related. They are to describe the work of the Neighbourhood Houses from the perspective of the women who attend them and those who work there; and to analyse the role and functions of the Neighbourhood Houses from the standpoint of feminist theories of womens wellbeing and of theories of social capital. / Following a brief history of the Neighbourhood House movement the thesis describes the qualitative methodology- semi-structured interviews- that was utilised to gather information from the thirty five recruited participants about their experiences at the Neighbourhood Houses. The womens voices provide richly detailed accounts that reveal not only the womens self understandings of their needs and aspirations but also much about the internal politics of the Neighbourhood Houses as well. This data is clearly connected with theories of womens wellbeing in terms of the positive impact that attending Neighbourhood Houses has had on these womens lives. / Social capital theory, recognised here as a large and growing body of theoretical work, is initially described in terms of Putnams approach as his work is seen as being responsible for the popularisation of the concept. A comprehensive account of critiques of Putnams approach give rise to questions about its appropriateness for the analysis of small mutual aid/ social care organisations, such as Neighbourhood Houses. The issue of positioning the work of small social care institutions in relation to social capital theories becomes a focal question for the thesis. / The case for Neighbourhood Houses actively contributing to social capital was found to be somewhat ambiguous. In terms of Putnams theory the outcomes of their activities and operations do not appear to be sufficiently prominent to support the claim that they contribute to social capital in any significant way. However, in terms of the work of Bullen & Onyx (1998) and Cavaye (2002) that focuses on the importance of the contributions of group and individual social capital to the overall accumulation of social capital, the findings of this thesis find firmer ground. Ultimately, the thesis argues for a less rigidly defined, more in-depth definition and understanding of what constitutes social capital, whilst at the same time retaining Putmans basic elements of trust, reciprocity, networks and the common good to underpin the concept of social capital. / The achievements of this thesis, like its aims, are two-fold. I have shown how Neighbourhood Houses can be seen to be quasi-government organisations whose socially responsible operations meet the needs of a vulnerable, disadvantaged and politically overlooked group in society. And importantly, this work has been instrumental in making the work of these little-known and under-funded social institutions more visible. Also, by interrogating the work of Neighbourhood Houses in terms of theories of social capital I have shown that they have connections with and contribute to the wider community fabric in a number of significant ways that are not always visible to the wider community. / As such, this thesis has engaged in the ongoing debate about the usefulness of social capital theory, which in certain quarters has been adopted as a potential panacea to transform existing social problems with minimal policy change or increased resources. The perspective urged here is a much more cautious reading of social capital theory that takes into consideration the contextualization of its application. The thesis concludes with a plea for increased government recognition and resources for Neighbourhood Houses to enable them to more actively participate in their own wider communities. / Thesis (PhDEducation)--University of South Australia, 2005.

Thesis (M.U.R.P.) -- University of Adelaide, Department of Architecture, 1980.

Please read the abstract (Summary) in the section, 00front of this document / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Educational Psychology / PhD / Unrestricted

This study seeks to uncover the opportunities and challenges in building the foundations for sustainable community development at the local level, by enhancing the capacity of a community organisation. Challenging the traditional needs-based focus of community development, the research builds from the work of Kretzmann and McKnight by applying an asset-based approach to both community development and capacity building of community organisations. This study thus shifts the focus of community development away from its traditional application on

Currently in South Africa there are over 8 million people who have had little or no formal schooling. This has resulted in a large portion of the population that is unable to read and write or participate fully in society. The Adult Basic Education and Training Act of 2000 declares that access to education for adults is a basic human right, and it should therefore be readily available to the population. However, in KwaZulu-Natal there are only a few centres which offer ABET courses, and those that do have mostly not been designed specifically for this function, but are schools and community centres. This has meant that facilities are often inappropriate and inefficient in addressing the needs of the adult learner. It is in response to the current educational shortage that a Centre for Adult Basic Education and Training for Durban has been proposed. Through this study, key aspects relating to the design of a centre for adult education were examined. These included the response to an urban context, movement in the city and buildings, the quality of the learning environment, and the needs of the adult learner. In order to develop the architecture for a Centre for Adult Basic Education and Vocational Training, these principles were analysed and understood in order to make a meaningful response. This research examines some of the complex factors which influence the design of a Centre for Adult Basic Education and Vocational Training in Durban in order to provide a centre that provides all the necessary services in one building. Primary and secondary data collection methods were used, in the form of interviews, case studies, a literature review and precedent studies. The research was then used in order to draw up a design brief, resulting in the design of a Centre for Adult Basic Education and Vocational Training. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

When the African National Congress took power from the apartheid regime in 1994 it promised to transform the public service by eradicating the inequalities of the past in the provisioning of basic services. The ANC-led government aimed to be a people-centred one, and service delivery became the central focal point. For government to realise its goal of annihilating the inequalities of the past, it became imperative that services be provided in a transparent, coherent and representative manner to all citizens, particularly the previously marginalised communities. in order to promote efficiency, effectiveness, responsiveness and accountability, the government identified various alternative strategies that would enhance service delivery and bring it closer to the people. One of the strategies was to set up Multipurpose Community Centres (MPCCs), also known as Thusong Service Centres (TSCs), that were to serve as the vehicle to enhance service delivery. Although such a move was a noble one and brought hope to many impoverished South Africans, there are still challenges faced by government in the provision of basic services that culminated in recent violent service delivery protests that adversely affected the whole country. The purpose of the research was to determine if the establishment of the MPCCs as a vehicle in enhancing service delivery has made a difference in the lives of previously marginalized communities. This study, therefore, critically examines whether the already established Centres play a pivotal role in enhancing service delivery. The literature review revealed that successful public service transformation has to create a sound relationship between government and its constituencies, and that can be attained by meaningfully engaging the public in matters such as policy formulation, as such engagement will inform government on the kind of programmes to be initiated and implemented that will respond to the social and economic needs of citizens. It is crucial that government must be community owned so that citizens must not only see themselves as recipients of services but also as decision makers. The literature review further argues that government must recognise that its primary responsibility is to drive the delivery of services in an efficient, effective and economic manner. It is therefore crucial that public administrators be committed and accountable toward the community, expand customer choice of services, ensure that citizens get the best possible value for money, and that access to basic services is increased regardless of the locale. On the contrary, the empirical study revealed that the Centres are not effectively addressing the needs of communities. One of the reasons of the failure of these Centres is due to the fact that the establishment of some Centres there was lack of proper consultation with communities and other relevant stakeholders on what services need to be rendered. The study also revealed that some Centres do not have adequate physical and human resources, Centres are managed by managers that are not adequately trained in managerial skills. The study further revealed that lack of funding makes it impossible for these Centres and services rendered sustainable, and lack of communication and coordination of activities between departments utilising the Centres render integrated service delivery ineffective The research concludes by presenting recommendations that were carefully drawn from the analysis of the findings and the entire study, followed by a proposed model that provides a multifaceted approach that outlines an action plan in the delivery of services, and should serve as a guide to Government with regard to the implementation of strategies and policies for the betterment of lives of South African citizens, especially the previously marginalised. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.

The aim of this document is to explore the potential culture and tradition has in restoring and preserving local cultural identity through built environment. The need to create local cultural identity to built environments and to ensure that these are expressed in a progressive and dynamic way in order to expresses culture as a dynamic evolving organ, not a as static dogma ensuring versatility and significance to all generations. Most built environments do not consider the importance of culture and tradition hence such ignorance has resulted in the formation of spaces that lacks the identity of the society. The research will explore how culture, tradition and built environments may be integrated to create a meaningful environment in order to achieve environments that are an epitome and responds to the people’s needs. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

This research is a study of traditional and modern architecture and how the aforementioned systems can and should integrate into Afro-centric architecture. The emphasis was on the architecture one tends to enjoy as an African, explored and juxtaposed against the thoughts and theoretical frameworks of culture sensitive architects worldwide. In this dissertation, the aspects of integrative theory were explored. Primary theories dealing with sustainability, New African Architecture, Indigenous Knowledge and Semiology were assessed as well. The differences between traditional Africa and modern adaptations, both positive and negative, were the limit of the research. In the dissertation certain key questions are posed to drive the inquiry of the document. The hypothesis is the conjecture that a connection between modernized architecture and traditional semiotics exists and can be cultivated to flourish, developing African architecture at all levels. This conjecture acts as a base for primary and secondary research. There are accounts listed in this dissertation of richly meaningful and sensitive traditional architecture that show a connection between American, Asian, African and European primitive building styles. These accounts show practices that have lasted near as long as the society that invented them. The gathered information shows that these examples have undergone little change over the years. The dissertation argues that the value these instances of traditional architectural meaning lessened over the years due to a shift in cultural paradigms. Further chapters in the study address cosmology, African attitudes to space, the reinvention of old materials and the manifestation and celebration of new tectonic relationships. Lessons collected on the above listed issues were related against findings from verbal interviews, written questionnaires and observations at the site of case studies. It is the researcher’s desire to explore the potential for an integrative developmental institute. To this end, an assessment has been done both in the form of precedent embedded in the text and Case Studies of relevant buildings that relate to the subject matter of the dissertation. The analysis of these assessments shows a manifested potential for the integration of traditional designs with modern building. / Thesis (M.Arch.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.