Thesis (D. Tech.) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2009 / This research analyses the discourses of students without barriers on inclusive higher education. It is assumed that the discursive practices of students without barriers will affect their perception negatively on inclusive education. This leads to the students without barriers’ attitude. As a result the students without barriers believed that upbringing played a role in their discourses. Parental and societal stereotypes blinded them to discourses. Analysing the discourses of students without barriers indicates the need for support in order to go beyond their stereotypes. To confirm these findings, I used qualitative study to conduct my research. The literature is reviewed in Chapter Two to find out what various researchers in previous studies say with regard to the discourses of students without barriers. Six respondents were selected from two different universities, namely the Central University of Technology and the University of the Free State. This was done with the purpose of analysing the discourse of students without barriers to determine if they understood what it means to be supported. The Free Attitude Interview was used as the technique for gathering information from the respondents. The purpose was to find the discourses of students without barriers in an inclusive higher education. This research study used the textually orientated discourse analysis (TODA) as a technique for gathering data. A tape recorder was used as a supplement for information that might be forgotten. The audio recordings were transcribed, verbatim and later interpreted. The spoken word of the respondents was analysed with the aim of disclosing the ideology carried by the respondents. This study is able to conclude that students without barriers felt superior to physically disabled students, as they indicated in their dominant discourses. This implies that students without barriers are positioned with ideology and discourses in so far as their meaning construction of discourses are concerned. Based on the findings, the study recommends an inservice programme to help students without barriers to become aware of their discursive practices. The students without barriers should not allow negative stereotypes and misconception to prevent them from their discourses in inclusive higher education.

Submitted on completed of Master’s Degree of Technology: Quality, Department of Operations and Quality Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / Similar to a production line, the development of a dissertation is a process within a research dyad that is affected by many factors. On completion, the customer / student is either satisfied or dissatisfied with the outcome of the research process. However, errors in the dissertation detract from its quality and this may leave students dissatisfied with the overall outcome of the marking and review process. To improve the product, it is critical that factors contributing to the production of a quality dissertation are understood. The aim of this study was to determine which components of the SERVQUAL model (namely, Responsiveness, Assurance, Tangibles, Empathy and Reliability) contributed to a lower quality dissertation, thereby gaining an understanding of, and implementing factors which enable the production of a good quality dissertation which meets all stakeholders’ expectations. This was achieved through a prospective, mixed-methods study which analyzed the quality of 30 dissertations by means of a Checklist, denoting the quality of the dissertations. Thereafter, the 30 students and 30 supervisors involved in these dyads were asked to each complete separate questionnaires. The questions covered their respective demographics, research knowledge, expectations and perceptions of the research process. The data was then descriptively analysed and presented by way of tables to demonstrate the quality of the dissertation, and the characteristics of the students and the supervisors. The Chi-Squared statistics and Fisher’s Exact tests were then computed to determine relationships between these characteristics. It was revealed that significant differences between the students and the supervisors existed regarding: the length of time to completion of their Master’s; the roles of facilitators in the research process; student and supervisor role ambiguity; the reason for and need to complete research and specific knowledge of the research process. It was noted that a lack of communication resulted in a significant impact on reliability of the university service, moderate impact on assurance and responsiveness, with the least impact on empathy. In contrast, both the student and the supervisor perceived the tangibles provided by the university as satisfactory. Then, through the process of triangulation, it was shown that the relationship within the dyad lacked clear communication and common understanding of the research processes which was likely to result in a lower quality dissertation. It is, therefore, recommended that all students and supervisors that enter into a dyadic relationship need to find mechanisms (for example: learning contract, weekly meetings) to ensure a consistent and common understanding of the research process throughout its development to allow for the effective production of a good quality dissertation.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-03T18:35:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maria_do_Socorro_Conceicao_Santos.pdf: 2386085 bytes, checksum: 124326ec5484d62f940cf5cd1a234372 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-27 / The training in scientific thinking is founded on doubt on curiosity and research. Learning to research is a dialogical process that makes the space of the classroom a stage of discussions and arguments enabling role of the student. This research aimed to investigate how the research is present in the training and teaching practice teacher and researcher who works in the Accounting course offered by IES city of S??o Paulo. We sought to identify advances and limitations that may impact the effectiveness of pedagogical practice in the university context. Therefore, we carried out an exploratory qualitative approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and document analysis. It was found that the teachers surveyed had few experiences in research in their formative processes during undergraduate and graduate, which may have influenced the pedagogical performance and a better targeting of their methodological choices in the classroom. As to how teachers conduct their classes, it was found the commitment to create situations and learning environments capable of providing research experiences to students of accounting sciences in which they operate. However, not all teachers still use the research as an educational principle and attitude everyday. Pedagogical practice of some teachers studied classes were routed through the questioning of contents and active methodologies, these very characteristics of teaching with research. Already in the practice of other research presented as academic activity, linked to query and search for information. It was found that research is present in the training and teaching practice of teachers investigated, however, in some cases not yet constituted as an educational principle with the essential questions that lead to arguments and to construct new knowledge. We conclude that teaching with research requires learning situations that lead students to the systematic questioning, methodical, argued, where the research have a broader direction, which is not exhausted in methodological requirements, although they are necessary. In addition to the method, there must be a conceptual theoretical questioning, which argued, is also a form of research. Thus, the search mode influences the way they teach, the principles of educational research contribute to the improvement of teaching and learning, and hence the formation of the student (future teachers) and the teacher-researcher who works in the context University / A forma????o para o pensar cient??fico se funda na d??vida, na curiosidade e na investiga????o. Aprender com pesquisa ?? um processo dial??gico que torna o espa??o da sala de aula um palco de discuss??es e argumenta????es possibilitando o protagonismo do aluno. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar de que modo a pesquisa est?? presente na forma????o e na pr??tica pedag??gica do professor e pesquisador que atua em curso de Ci??ncias Cont??beis oferecido por IES da cidade de S??o Paulo. Procurou-se identificar avan??os e limita????es que podem impactar a efic??cia da pr??tica pedag??gica no contexto universit??rio. Para tanto, realizou-se uma pesquisa explorat??ria com abordagem qualitativa. Os dados foram coletados por meio da entrevista em profundidade e da an??lise documental. Constatou-se que os professores investigados tiveram poucas viv??ncias em pesquisa nos seus processos formativos durante a gradua????o e p??s-gradua????o, fato que pode ter influenciado na atua????o pedag??gica e numa melhor orienta????o das suas op????es metodol??gicas em sala de aula. Quanto ao modo como os docentes conduzem suas aulas, constatou-se o empenho em criar situa????es e ambientes de aprendizagens capazes de proporcionar viv??ncias em pesquisa aos alunos dos cursos de ci??ncias cont??beis onde atuam. Entretanto, nem todos os professores ainda utilizam a pesquisa como atitude cotidiana e princ??pio educativo. Na pr??tica pedag??gica de alguns professores estudados as aulas foram encaminhadas por meio da problematiza????o dos conte??dos e de metodologias ativas, caracter??sticas estas pr??prias do ensino com pesquisa. J?? na pr??tica de outros a pesquisa apresentou-se como atividade acad??mica, ligada a consulta e a busca de informa????es. Constatou-se que a pesquisa se faz presente na forma????o e na pr??tica pedag??gica dos professores investigados, entretanto, em alguns casos n??o se constituiu ainda como principio educativo com os indispens??veis questionamentos que conduzem a argumenta????es e ?? constru????o de novos conhecimentos. Conclui-se que ensino com pesquisa exige situa????es de aprendizagem que conduzam os alunos ao questionamento sistem??tico, met??dico, argumentado, onde a pesquisa tenha uma dire????o mais ampla, que n??o se esgote em exig??ncias metodol??gicas, embora estas sejam necess??rias. Para al??m do m??todo, deve haver um questionamento te??rico conceitual, que argumentado, ?? tamb??m uma forma de pesquisa. Sendo assim, o modo de pesquisar influencia o modo de ensinar, os princ??pios educativos da pesquisa contribuem para a melhoria do processo de ensino e aprendizagem, e, consequentemente, da forma????o do aluno (futuro professor) e do professor-pesquisador que atua no contexto da universidade

Submitted in fulfillment of 1he requirements of the Master of Technology degree in Commercial Administration, Department of lnformation and Corporate and Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / The higher education landscape in South Africa has undergone significant change and transformation in recent decades, obliging all higher education institutions to be more competitive and provide services of quality to attract and retain students. Since their emergence as universities in the years of 2003-2004 Universities of Technology (UoTs) have been required to engage in research and to improve research output and throughput rapidly despite having their roots in a former colonial and apartheid era in which they were required to play a purely technical role. Importantly, the government funding formula for universities in South Africa is now the same for all public universities (based on publications and throughput) even though traditional universities were always research-oriented. This makes it likely that UoTs will continue to lag behind traditional universities if drastic measures to increase research capacity are not put in place. In order to service the provision of this sustainable research output different measures and research structures have therefore been designed by UoTs to support the increasing pressure to produce M and DTech graduates and upgrade the qualifications of teaching staff. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate the administrative support of research services and structures at faculty level at a selected UoT; to provide insights in terms of staff and student perceptions of postgraduate support and to make recommendations as to how to enhance existing research services and improve research structures to support research functions. The study was a case study of a selected UoT. It used mixed method research to enable the researcher to collect both qualitative and quantitative data from academics and M and DTech students and Faculty Research Office staff members. Questionnaires and interviews were used as data collection instruments. Supported by the Gap Model of service quality and delivery and an adapted SERVQUAL instrument, the study sought to determine staff and postgraduate students' perceptions and expectations of research structures and service quality across four dimensions, namely reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy. Analysis of the data revealed that Faculty Research Offices across each of the six faculties were lacking in certain respects in providing research support and development in each of the four identified service dimensions. They were particularly lacking in terms of communicating the nature and details of the research support services they offer. The study concluded that with improved research structures and more skilled personnel all research activities could be incorporated and be facilitated by Faculty Research Offices, taking these functions away from departmental research committees where these exist. It also concluded that by communicating these research services through faculty orientations, workshop sessions, and online forums, academics and students' awareness would be enhanced. This could also have a positive impact on handling research matters and processes, improving the reliability of the research office services and allowing students to associate with the research office on a more regular basis. This study therefore recommended that the identified quality gaps should be attended to in order to improve research services. Further, issues of research capacity development and support and service quality need to be urgently considered by the institution in order in the longer term to be in a position to improve enrolment and graduation rates, increase scholarly publications and contribute to the knowledge society. Inviting research experts and drawing on the greater experience and expertise of their Australian counterparts in the ATN network (with whom SA UoTs have a formal MoU) could lead to further research and development in the area investigated. This should go a long way in ensuring progress and growth in research output within the faculties of the institution investigated and could be of interest to other UoTs facing similar challenges.

A gestão de laboratório tornou-se essencial em razão da preocupação com a saúde e com o meio ambiente. Conhecer todos os processos e atividades desenvolvidas nessas unidades e adotar bons indicadores para avaliar o desempenho, facilitam o controle interno do laboratório. O uso combinado dos indicadores com as ferramentas de gestão como Gestão da Qualidade Total, Redesenho de Processos, Normas ISO, Pensamento Lean e Gestão do Erro, poderão propiciar uma melhora significativa na eficiência. Esse trabalho de Engenharia Biomédica, com linha de pesquisa em Engenharia Clínica e Gestão, tem como objetivo selecionar e avaliar indicadores que facilitem o controle interno de laboratórios e provoquem seu uso pelos tomadores de decisão e todos da Engenharia Clínica. O controle interno permite detectar desvios e realizar correções no desempenho das rotinas, prestando assim um serviço com confiabilidade nos resultados das pesquisas e laudo de testes e exames. A metodologia constou em selecionar um conjunto de indicadores a partir das rotinas utilizadas em laboratório clínico, por dispor de maior experiência e publicações na área de gestão. Este conjunto de indicadores foi aplicado em dois perfis de laboratórios: em um estrato, laboratórios que influenciam diretamente a saúde e em outro estrato, laboratórios que, o resultado de suas pesquisas possa alterar o meio ambiente e, dessa forma, impactar indiretamente a saúde humana. Sustentado em trabalhos da literatura especializada de autores conceituados, selecionou-se 30 indicadores contemplando uma Avaliação Prévia e as categorias de Indicadores de Liderança, de Responsabilidade Pública, de Planejamento Estratégico, de Operacionalização Estratégica e dos Grupos de Usuários. Os indicadores buscaram explorar a rotina das atividades e o envolvimento dos participantes e usuários na gestão de laboratórios universitários de Odontologia, Nutrição e Farmacologia (laboratórios com influência direta sobre a saúde) e laboratórios universitários de Veterinária, Agronomia e Zootecnia (laboratórios com influência indireta sobre a saúde). Para cada Indicador foram delineadas três opções de respostas que permitisse analisar a existência da prática, da rotina, sua intensidade e a visão do participante quanto à administração da unidade laboratorial. Os resultados foram analisados comparativa e proporcionalmente em três abordagens. Na primeira análise, cada opção de resposta de cada indicador foi comparada entre todos os laboratórios. Na segunda análise, cada opção de resposta de cada indicador foi comparada entre os dois estratos. E na terceira análise, foi comparado o percentual de cada opção entre todas as respostas. Estabelecido o limite de tolerância, pode-se identificar: os indicadores que atendem a expectativa, a qual estrato pertence e em que proporção. Da mesma forma pode-se identificar os indicadores com maior comprometimento na gestão e de quantos participantes espera-se o não atendimento do indicador. Com a metodologia proposta foi possível visualizar a realidade da unidade laboratorial, verificar a flexibilidade em estabelecer o limite de aceitação por prioridades e perceber que com o uso das ferramentas de gestão é possível, com pequenas intervenções, esperar grandes resultados. / Laboratory management has become essential due to health and enviroment concerns. Knowing all the processes and activities developed at the units and adopting good indicators to evaluate the performance, facilitates the internal control of the laboratories. The use of the indicators combined with management tools such as Total Quality Management, Process Redesign, ISO Standards, Lean Thinking and Error Management may provide a significant improvement at the efficiency. This Biomedical Engineering work, with Clinical Engineering and Management lines of research, aims at selecting and evaluating indicators that facilitate the internal control of the laboratories and induces its use by the decision makers and everyone in the Clinical Engineering. The internal control allows the detection of misapplications and corrections in the routine performance, thus providing a reliable work in the research results, tests and exams reports. The methodology consisted in selecting a set of indicators from the routines used in clinical laboratories because there is greater experience and publications at the management area. This set of indicators was applied to two laboratory profiles: laboratories that influence health directly and laboratories whose results of researches could affect the enviroment and, this way, impact indirectly on human heatlh. Sustained by works of the specialized literature by credible authors, 30 indicators were selected contemplating a Previous Evaluation and the categories of Leading Indicators, Public Responsability, Strategic Planning, Strategic Operationalization and User Group. The indicators tried to explore the activities routine and the involvement of the participants and users in the management of the Odontology, Nutrition and Pharmacology university laboratories (with a direct influence over health) and Veterinary, Agronomy and Zootechny university laboratories (with an indirect influence over health). To each indicator it was outlined three options of answers that allowed the analyses of the existence of the routine practice, its intensity and the participants’ vision concerning the management of the laboratory unit. The results were analyzed comparatively and proportionally into three approaches. In the first analysis, each answer option of each indicator was compared among all laboratories. In the second analysis, each answer option of each indicator was compared between the two strata. In the third analysis it was compared the percentage of each strata between all the answers. Being established the tolerance limit, it can be identified: the indicators that meet the expectations, to which strata it belongs and in what proportion. The indicator with major commitment in management and from how many participants no care of the indicator is expected can also be identified. With the proposed methodology it was possible to visualize the reality of the laboratory unit, verify the flexibility of establishing the limit of priorities acceptance and realize that with the use of the management tools it is possible to expect great results with small interventions.

A gestão de laboratório tornou-se essencial em razão da preocupação com a saúde e com o meio ambiente. Conhecer todos os processos e atividades desenvolvidas nessas unidades e adotar bons indicadores para avaliar o desempenho, facilitam o controle interno do laboratório. O uso combinado dos indicadores com as ferramentas de gestão como Gestão da Qualidade Total, Redesenho de Processos, Normas ISO, Pensamento Lean e Gestão do Erro, poderão propiciar uma melhora significativa na eficiência. Esse trabalho de Engenharia Biomédica, com linha de pesquisa em Engenharia Clínica e Gestão, tem como objetivo selecionar e avaliar indicadores que facilitem o controle interno de laboratórios e provoquem seu uso pelos tomadores de decisão e todos da Engenharia Clínica. O controle interno permite detectar desvios e realizar correções no desempenho das rotinas, prestando assim um serviço com confiabilidade nos resultados das pesquisas e laudo de testes e exames. A metodologia constou em selecionar um conjunto de indicadores a partir das rotinas utilizadas em laboratório clínico, por dispor de maior experiência e publicações na área de gestão. Este conjunto de indicadores foi aplicado em dois perfis de laboratórios: em um estrato, laboratórios que influenciam diretamente a saúde e em outro estrato, laboratórios que, o resultado de suas pesquisas possa alterar o meio ambiente e, dessa forma, impactar indiretamente a saúde humana. Sustentado em trabalhos da literatura especializada de autores conceituados, selecionou-se 30 indicadores contemplando uma Avaliação Prévia e as categorias de Indicadores de Liderança, de Responsabilidade Pública, de Planejamento Estratégico, de Operacionalização Estratégica e dos Grupos de Usuários. Os indicadores buscaram explorar a rotina das atividades e o envolvimento dos participantes e usuários na gestão de laboratórios universitários de Odontologia, Nutrição e Farmacologia (laboratórios com influência direta sobre a saúde) e laboratórios universitários de Veterinária, Agronomia e Zootecnia (laboratórios com influência indireta sobre a saúde). Para cada Indicador foram delineadas três opções de respostas que permitisse analisar a existência da prática, da rotina, sua intensidade e a visão do participante quanto à administração da unidade laboratorial. Os resultados foram analisados comparativa e proporcionalmente em três abordagens. Na primeira análise, cada opção de resposta de cada indicador foi comparada entre todos os laboratórios. Na segunda análise, cada opção de resposta de cada indicador foi comparada entre os dois estratos. E na terceira análise, foi comparado o percentual de cada opção entre todas as respostas. Estabelecido o limite de tolerância, pode-se identificar: os indicadores que atendem a expectativa, a qual estrato pertence e em que proporção. Da mesma forma pode-se identificar os indicadores com maior comprometimento na gestão e de quantos participantes espera-se o não atendimento do indicador. Com a metodologia proposta foi possível visualizar a realidade da unidade laboratorial, verificar a flexibilidade em estabelecer o limite de aceitação por prioridades e perceber que com o uso das ferramentas de gestão é possível, com pequenas intervenções, esperar grandes resultados. / Laboratory management has become essential due to health and enviroment concerns. Knowing all the processes and activities developed at the units and adopting good indicators to evaluate the performance, facilitates the internal control of the laboratories. The use of the indicators combined with management tools such as Total Quality Management, Process Redesign, ISO Standards, Lean Thinking and Error Management may provide a significant improvement at the efficiency. This Biomedical Engineering work, with Clinical Engineering and Management lines of research, aims at selecting and evaluating indicators that facilitate the internal control of the laboratories and induces its use by the decision makers and everyone in the Clinical Engineering. The internal control allows the detection of misapplications and corrections in the routine performance, thus providing a reliable work in the research results, tests and exams reports. The methodology consisted in selecting a set of indicators from the routines used in clinical laboratories because there is greater experience and publications at the management area. This set of indicators was applied to two laboratory profiles: laboratories that influence health directly and laboratories whose results of researches could affect the enviroment and, this way, impact indirectly on human heatlh. Sustained by works of the specialized literature by credible authors, 30 indicators were selected contemplating a Previous Evaluation and the categories of Leading Indicators, Public Responsability, Strategic Planning, Strategic Operationalization and User Group. The indicators tried to explore the activities routine and the involvement of the participants and users in the management of the Odontology, Nutrition and Pharmacology university laboratories (with a direct influence over health) and Veterinary, Agronomy and Zootechny university laboratories (with an indirect influence over health). To each indicator it was outlined three options of answers that allowed the analyses of the existence of the routine practice, its intensity and the participants’ vision concerning the management of the laboratory unit. The results were analyzed comparatively and proportionally into three approaches. In the first analysis, each answer option of each indicator was compared among all laboratories. In the second analysis, each answer option of each indicator was compared between the two strata. In the third analysis it was compared the percentage of each strata between all the answers. Being established the tolerance limit, it can be identified: the indicators that meet the expectations, to which strata it belongs and in what proportion. The indicator with major commitment in management and from how many participants no care of the indicator is expected can also be identified. With the proposed methodology it was possible to visualize the reality of the laboratory unit, verify the flexibility of establishing the limit of priorities acceptance and realize that with the use of the management tools it is possible to expect great results with small interventions.