The purpose of the study was to describe factors that influence black females to choose engineering as a career. It transpired from the literature study that enabling environment, gender of role models, self-efficacy and socialization are important factors in terms of causing and attracting females into the fields of science and engineering study. From the empirical study it came out clearly that family members, female role members, and confidence in mathematics and science were factors that caused the females in engineering group to choose it as a career. Findings also revealed that gender stereotypes did not deter them from choosing engineering and that they were content with their career choice. For the above factors to be addressed incentives exclusive to females should be launched by government so as to attract more females to the fields of science and engineering. Schools also need to pursue programmes that expose learners to these fields. / Educational Studies / M. Ed.

The purpose of the study was to describe factors that influence black females to choose engineering as a career. It transpired from the literature study that enabling environment, gender of role models, self-efficacy and socialization are important factors in terms of causing and attracting females into the fields of science and engineering study. From the empirical study it came out clearly that family members, female role members, and confidence in mathematics and science were factors that caused the females in engineering group to choose it as a career. Findings also revealed that gender stereotypes did not deter them from choosing engineering and that they were content with their career choice. For the above factors to be addressed incentives exclusive to females should be launched by government so as to attract more females to the fields of science and engineering. Schools also need to pursue programmes that expose learners to these fields. / Educational Studies / M. Ed.

For physically challenged students, inequalities in further education begin with inequalities that have shaped the whole schooling system in South Africa. The limited provision that exists for physically challenged students at further education and training colleges in KwaZulu-Natal Province, especially black physically challenged students, means that for these students there is a very high level of exclusion from the education system. Many students with physical challenges still need an ally even in their basic accommodation. The focus of this research was on exploring challenges experienced by physically challenged students at “Mango” (pseudonym) Further Education and Training College in KwaZulu-Natal Province. That investigation was conducted in terms of the availability of resources for physically challenged students at Further Education and Training Colleges, the use of learner support services, accessibility of buildings for these students and the roles played by parents of physically challenged students at Further Education and Training Colleges in KwaZulu-Natal Province. This study was therefore designed to explore not only the challenges experienced by physically challenged students at Mango FET College in KwaZulu-Natal Province, but also their experiences and responses to such challenges. This research study was conducted with students who were physically challenged and their lecturers from Mango FET College in KwaZulu-Natal Province. The sample of the population included six participants who were physically challenged students and four participants who were lecturers teaching physically challenged students at Mango FET College. Furthermore, participants comprised both females and males who were doing different levels at the college, i.e. NQF level two, NQF level three and NQF level four students. The research study sought to explore the challenges experienced by such physically challenged students at Mango FET College in KwaZulu-Natal Province in order for the college to meet these students’ academic needs. Observations and semi-structured interviews were the main data-collection tools used in the study. Results from the current research study indicated that inaccessibility of buildings, lack of resources for physically challenged students, inadequate support from student support services and the college represented major barriers to the success of the physically challenged students at Mango FET College in KwaZulu-Natal Province. Moreover, although student support services are available, the entire college population, students and staff alike, should all be responsible for creating an inclusive environment where students with physical challenges can experience a sense of community and attitudes of embracing diversity and accommodating differences. The responsibility thus lies with all relevant role players of Mango FET College in KwaZulu-Natal Province who must work together to overcome social and academic barriers; to accommodate physically challenged students properly, provide them with accessible buildings, encourage parents to assist physically challenged students, endeavour to meet their academic, social and emotional needs and assist them to develop academically. In future, progress can be made through the increased coordination of student support services, building accessible buildings with ramps for physically challenged students, and providing adequate resources for these students. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

People-against-the-law is a societal phenomenon that will never disappear, even in societies where law and order are effectively enforced and practised. Political, economic and social conditions contribute to reasons why some people end up in correctional facilities. This study investigated the perceptions of offenders enrolled in education and training programmes offered by three correctional centres in Pretoria. The study adopted a pragmatic qualitative methodology in which the perceptions of the offenders in the educational programmes, and officials were investigated on whether the programmes addressed their personal development and that of their communities. Interviews and observations were used to collect data during tuition activities. Sixty-five (65) males, females, youth offenders, ex-convicts and officials from Correctional Services and non-governmental organisations participated in the study. Bronfenbrenner’s systems and Knowles’ andragogy were used as the theoretical base to understand the dynamics of adult learning in challenging prison environments. The study concluded that educational programmes offered by the Department of Correctional Services must be needs-based and align to employment opportunities, self-esteem and proper rehabilitation of individual offenders. Adult education programmes grounded on andragogic principles and practices should be revisited in correctional centres’ contexts. Thus educational programmes within Correctional Services should not only be mandatory, but teaching and learning activities should be conducted by qualified adult educators, and address the social needs of the adult offenders. / Educational Foundations / D. Ed. (Socio Education)

Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Technology: Emergency Medical Care, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / South African Advanced Life Support (ALS) providers follow an autonomous practice model of care. This advanced role profile is characterized by clinical skill competence and autonomous decision making whilst demonstrating a high level of awareness of their own ethical attitudes, values and beliefs. It is through a professional commitment that ALS providers deliver an advanced evidence based practice that should be maintained constantly within a dynamic environment. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is seen as an instrument for this. CPD should also serve as a means to acquire professional excellence and going beyond the boundaries of meeting the base level standard with the aim of providing the finest quality of care in the interest of patient safety. Purpose of the research The purpose of this research is to identify gaps in the professional development of out-of-hospital ALS providers trained in South Africa by assessing frequency of performance of ALS clinical skills, by determining perceived level of competence and predictors of confidence, and by sourcing information on attendance of CPD activities and training needs. vi Methodology This study used a quantitative non-experimental design. Data was attained from an e-mail based descriptive survey that was limited to a precise and concise questionnaire. The data from 140 (N) ALS providers was subjected to a descriptive statistical analysis using the PASW statistics version 18.0 to systematically show patterns and trends. Frequency distributions were generated to describe data categories. Bivariate analysis was conducted using Chi-square and Pearson correlation tests. Results Results indicated that ALS providers performed clinical skills infrequently. Of the total number of respondents 140 (N), the average ALS clinical skills performance was 6 (4.8%) daily. In the 2-6 times a week category 8 (6.4%) ALS clinical skills were performed. ALS clinical skills performance in the once a week category showed an average of 7 (5.6%) and the once a month category, an average of 17 (13.7%) ALS skills were performed. An average of 31 (25%) ALS skills were performed in the once in six months category whilst an average of 54 (43.5%) were performed in the greater than six months category. CPD activities that are appropriate to ensuring the maintenance of competence for these clinical skills were not adequately undertaken. Medical updates were mostly attended by ALS providers, 52 (42.9%) whilst CPD events that addressed clinical skills, was mostly limited vii to the ACLS course 42 (34.7%). The needs assessment for CPD showed that 56 (53%) of respondents expressed a need for paediatric and obstetric simulated skill sessions, whilst 43 (40.9%) requested clinical skills workshops and 39 (37.1%) expressed a need for clinical practice in theatre and coronary care units. Conclusions and recommendations This study shows that ALS clinical skill competence is maintained by frequent practice and appropriateness of CPD activities. The infrequent performance of ALS skills coupled with the lack of appropriate and diverse CPD activity attendance results in poor maintenance of competence. The loss of competence can be related to poor reported levels of confidence which consequently places patient safety at risk. To safeguard against medical error and ensure patient safety, it is strongly recommended that CPD audits be undertaken on all ALS providers for appropriate CPD compliance related to clinical skills performance. In addition to a clinical skills audit, it is recommended that a national clinical skills registry be established with the intention of facilitating clinical skill surveillance, to determine a notifiable, high risk skill set. To safeguard against knowledge and clinical skill attrition and loss of competence, the delivery of CPD activities should be assessed for effectiveness and appropriateness.

The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of simulation training in improving the clinical competence of pupil nurses. A quantitative, quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group before-after design is used. The method of data collection is observation using check lists. The population for this study includes the second-year pupil nurses (N=43) following the two-year programme leading to enrolment as a nurse at the Gauteng learning centre of a private hospital group during 2011-2012. The results reveal that although there is proof that clinical training in simulation improves the competence levels of the experimental group in the procedure administration of oral medication over a period of time, there is no proof that this is true for the procedure observation of patients’ neurological functions and, therefore, the researcher cannot come to a definite conclusion about the effectiveness of simulation training / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

D. Tech. Human Resources Management / The aim of this research is to identify the factors that impact on employee engagement of academic staff in further education and training (FET) colleges in South Africa. It also looks at how to develop a successful employee engagement framework for FET colleges.

Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Registered professional nurses are expected to maintain competence. Organisations are employing computer-assisted learning to fulfil this requirement. It was observed that staff experienced challenges such as technical difficulties, insufficient computer literacy, lack of opportunity and access to complete computer-assisted learning activities in a private healthcare organisation. These challenges may have implications for the effective learning and development of registered professional nurses. The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of registered professional nurses in computer-assisted learning at a private healthcare organisation. The research question was: “What are the experiences of registered professional nurses in computer-assisted learning at a private healthcare organisation?” The following objectives were set to:  Explore the experiences of registered professional nurses in computer-assisted learning related to o Organisational support o Human interaction o Programme design o Computer literacy A qualitative approach with a descriptive, exploratory design was applied. A purposive sample of seven (n=7) participants from a population of thirty five (N=35) were recruited. A pre-test was completed. Ethical principles were adhered to. A semi structured interview guide based on the objectives of the study was developed by the researcher and validated by a panel of experts in research methodology and nursing education. Data was collected in the form of individual interviews and a demographic questionnaire by the researcher and one research assistant. Content analysis was applied to analyse the data, with six themes emerging. These were access, opportunity, applied support, programme content and design, social learning and computers. The findings demonstrated that registered professional nurses experienced inadequate access and opportunity to computer-assisted learning activities. The lack of computer literacy and human interaction affected the learning experience of some, but not all participants. Technical problems and disturbances in the learning environment were major contributors to the negative experiences in computer-assisted learning. Positive experiences included the convenience and ease of use of intranet-based computer-assisted learning activities. The conceptual framework of Knowles’ Andragogy supported the findings of the study. Recommendations were to provide intranet access at work and home, internet access at work and also formalised opportunity to complete computer-assisted learning activities. Technical problems should be minimised. Learning environments should be separate from work environments. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar word van geregistreerde professionele verpleegkundiges verwag om vaardigheid te behou en organisasies wend rekenaar-ondersteunde leer aan om die vereiste te vervul. Dit was waargeneem dat personeel uitdagings ervaar soos tegniese probleme, onvoldoende rekenaargeletterdheid en ’n tekort aan geleentheid en toegang om rekenaar-ondersteunde aktiwiteite te voltooi by ’n privaat gesondheidsorg organisasie. Hierdie uitdagings mag implikasies inhou vir effektiewe leer en ontwikkeling van geregistreerde professionele verpleegkundiges. Die doel van die studie was om die ervaringe van geregistreerde professionele verpleegkundiges in rekenaar-ondersteunde leer, by ’n privaat gesondheidsorg organisasie te ondersoek. Die navorsingsvraag was: “Wat is die ervaringe van geregistreerde profesionele verpleegkundiges in rekenaar-ondersteunde leer by ’n privaat gesondheidsorg organisasie?” Die volgende doelwitte was gestel om:  Die ervaringe van geregistreerde professionele verpleegkundiges in rekenaarondersteunde leer te ondersoek in verband met o Organisasie ondersteuning o Menslike interaksie o Program ontwerp o Rekenaargeletterdheid ’n Kwalitatiewe benadering met ’n beskrywende, ondersoekende ontwerp was toegepas. ’n Steekproefgroep van sewe (n=7) deelnemers is doelbewus geselekteer vanuit ’n populasie van vyf en dertig (N=35). ’n Voortoets is voltooi. Etiese beginsels is nagevolg. ’n Semigestruktureerde onderhoudsgids gebaseer op die doelwitte van die studie is ontwikkel deur die navorser en bekragtig deur ’n paneel deskundiges in navorsingsmetodiek en verpleegonderrig. Data was ingesamel deur middel van individuele onderhoude en ’n demografiese vraelys deur die navorser en een navorsingsassistent. Inhoudsanalise was toegepas om die data te analiseer met ses temas wat na vore gekom het. Hierdie was toegang, geleentheid, toegepaste ondersteuning, program ontwerp en inhoud, sosiale leer en rekenaars. Die bevindinge het daarop gedui dat geregistreerde professionele verpleegkundiges onvoldoende toegang en geleentheid tot rekenaar-ondersteunde leer aktiwiteite ervaar het. Die gebrek aan rekenaargeltterdheid en menslike interaksie het sommige, alhoewel nie alle deelnemers se leerervaring geaffekteer. Tegniese probleme en versteurings in die leeromgewing het hoofsaaklik bygedra tot negatiewe ervarings in rekenaar-ondersteunde leer. Positiewe ervaringe het ingesluit die gerieflikheid en bruikbaarheid van intranetgebaseerde rekenaar-ondersteunde leer aktiwiteite. Die konseptuele raamwerk van Knowles se Andragogie ondersteun die bevindinge van die studie. Aanbevelings is om internet toegang by die werk, intranet toegang tuis en by die werk te voorsien asook formele geleenthede te skep om rekenaar-ondersteunde leer te voltooi. Tegniese probleme behoort tot die minmum beperk te word. Leeromgewings behoort apart te wees van werksomgewings.

M. Tech. Education / Investigates the status of Civil Technology practical activities in three South African schools in the Eastern Cape Province. The Civil Technology policy advocates that the integration of theory to practical, where learners should be capacitated with practical skills to enable them to amongst other things, enter the job market upon completion of Grade 12,or apprenticeships that will prepare them for a trade test should they not be willing to further their academic studies.

The National Curriculum Statement advocates a shift in focus with regards to the manner in which assessment and learning are conceptualized (Department of Education, 2002). Consequently, new forms of assessment that are in keeping with the principles of the National Curriculum Statement (Department of Education, 2002), are expected to be implemented within the South African classroom context. Set against this backdrop, the study set out to explore teaching learning through the lens of assessment, by focussing on the content, process and application issues associated with teacher learning. This study attempted to unpack what teachers know about assessment and how they have come to acquire this knowledge. It was envisaged that through an analysis of how teachers learn about assessment, this study would reveal valuable insights about how teachers learn, and in this way, bring to the fore additional meaningful insights about the conditions that lead to effective teacher learning. In striving to achieve the outcomes of the research project, this study focused on the interplay between theory and practice to explore the process of teacher learning and how this learning translates into practice, through exploring how teachers’ knowledge of assessment, influenced their classroom assessment practices. The study was a qualitative one, within a case-study design. The use of semi-structured, iterative interviews, document analysis, and observations, formed the instruments used in the study. The thesis unpacked the journey of learning about the new forms of assessment, among three primary school educators, who formed the participants of the study. The findings of the study allude to the notion that teachers learn in a variety of different ways, and through a plethora of learning experiences, making a simplistic, superficial understanding of teacher learning, inadequate. In addition, the study pointed to teacher learning being shaped by a number of factors, indicating the significant influence that a multitude of factors, both internal and external, have over teacher learning. Further, the challenges and issues associated with teacher learning were brought to the fore. The implications of the study suggest that teacher learning is complex and multi-faceted, making it most necessary to adopt a multi-focus approach to teacher learning. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Edgewood, 2012.