Thesis (MTech (Graphic Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012. / University graduates entering the graphic design, advertising and publishing industries do so with the hand and digital illustration knowledge and skills that they acquired during their time of study. As a result of the ever-changing developments in technology, the parameters of hand-generated illustration within the visual communications industry have increasingly progressed toward digitally generated artwork. This thesis investigates the alignment or nonalignment between illustration teaching and learning practices in higher education and professional practice in the visual communications industry, with a view to identifying the gaps, and their causes, in the knowledge and skills of graduates entering the workplace. The study uses the lens of Activity Theory (Enqestrorn, 1987) to investigate practices in higher education and industry sites. Both the higher education and workplace investigation was guided by the research questions: 1) What comprises an activity system in the training of illustrators in higher education? 2) What comprises an activity system in professional illustrators' practice? and 3) How can the higher education and professional activity systems be aligned for their mutual benefit? The comparative study uses both quantitative questionnaire data and qualitative data derived from interviews conducted in both higher education and workplace sites, including the analysis of samples of illustration at both sites. The research reveals areas where there is both alignment and non-alignment and recommendations are made with a view to ensuring that illustration programmes in higher education are aligned as closely as possible to the needs of the workplace. The contribution made by this research is both theoretical and practical. The theoretical knowledge framework that has been developed outlines academics' and practitioners' of illustration theorising of current trends in both hand and digital illustration curricula in higher education and current trends and needs of digital and hand illustration in the visual communication industry. In broad terms, there is alignment with regard to technical skills and the tools used across both sites, while there is non-alignment with regard to knowledge of and preparation for the workplace and self employment, for example, time management, interpersonal skills and the acceptance of critique. The practical contribution is in the form of recommendations to curricula, which when applied should better prepare graduates with the practical and skills required of illustrators in the unpredictable, demanding world of work, which they encounter on leaving their academic institutions.

M.Ed. / The subject English is compulsory in the researcher's students' field of study. The researcher offers the subject English for the National Teacher's Diploma Technical and the National Higher Diploma : Post-School Education. The students come from many different cultural backgrounds and for many of them English is a second or third language. The researcher has observed that there are social affects with which students have to contend, and has detected a definite need amongst students for more certainty pertaining to communication in distance education. The researcher has also perceived definite distinguishing features amongst cultural groups in her subject field English. A definite need arose to examine problems experienced by students studying through teletuition, such as trying to interact with a distant institution, problems concerning the study of English as second or third language and social effects experienced by students in distance education. After having done theoretical research, the researcher included an empirical questionnaire survey in which she attempted to gain biographical and other background information. Respondents were asked questions which concentrated on methods by which they had learned English, whether they experience an intrusion of their home language on English language performance and whether culture impinges on the acquisition of English. The research also attempted to determine whether students experience demotivation, fear of failure and situational problems, amongst others. In the light of the literature study, the questionnaire survey and interviews, the findings summarily were that students * have a need for more contact with their lecturers * revealed a need for emotional support from relatives and lecturers * are demotivated by the negative tone of comments on assignments * experience situational problems * experience fear of failure * experience an intrusion of their home language on English language performance * experience a cultural intrusion in the study of English * experience too many cross - cul,tural contrasts which have an effect on the understanding of English. If the educator in a distance education institution is aware of the students' needs and problems, it would result in a greater understanding of this didactic responsibility in helping students realize their full potential.