This multi-site case study is really the story of three same-state community colleges (Bridge and Buffer Community College, Grants and Reserves Community College, and Crystal Ball Community College) two years after they suffered a potentially catastrophic 50% reduction in state allocations. This study examined their responses to those reductions and attempted to frame those responses according to existing research on strategic activity and strategic positioning. The theoretical framework used, referenced as a theoretical mesh, consisted of academic capitalism (Slaughter & Leslie, 1997; Slaughter & Rhoades, 2004), resource dependence theory (Pfeffer & Salancik, 1978), state relative autonomy perspective (Dougherty, 1994), and neo-institutional theory (DiMaggio & Powell, 1983). The synthesis of these theories facilitated the analysis of the findings of this study. This study identified three key phenomena: The Quartering of Community Colleges to conceptualize and organize the abundance of external pressures facing community colleges, Mandates to Neutralize to explain the importance of an aggressive and formal approach to neutralizing external pressures, and Embedded Community Colleges whose strategic positions are strengthened through a deliberate, committed approach to fostering close relationships with their local communities.

This thesis deals with the problematics of education of teacher students in the field of ICT. The theoretical part focuses on mapping of the current situation of the pregraduate qualification in the field of ICT of teacher students that do not study ICT as their specialty. It presents the results of the ICILS 2013 research, which are connected to the Strategií digitálního vzdělávání do roku 2020 (Digital Education Strategy for 2020). This program should affect the qualification in the field of ICT of teacher students and the whole concept of teaching ICT in schools. The empirical part focuses on quantitative questionnaire research carried out at the Faculty of Education, Charles University. The goal of the research was to find out if the students are being educated in the field of ICT; if they are being encouraged to use ICT, and if they are interested in ICT. ICT subjects are not compulsory at the Faculty of Education, thus the only students that are being educated in these subjects are those ones who show interest and choose them as elective courses. The thesis includes a chapter on suggestions for practical use, which among other includes the current form of fulfillment of item 3 from the Strategie digitálního vzdělávání do roku 2020 (Digital Education Strategy for 2020) - Provide conditions for...

The diploma thesis Teaching Civic Education at the Elementary Schools in České Budějovice focuses on the current state of civic education at elementary schools in České Budějovice. The theoretical part deals with the system of curricular documents, analysis of the Framework Educational Program for basic education and its subsequent comparison with individual school educational programs at selected elementary schools in České Budějovice. The practical part presents interviews with four teachers who teach the subject of civic education at selected elementary schools in České Budějovice. These are the following elementary schools: Kubatova Elementary School and Kindergarten, Elementary School Matice školské, Church Elementary School and Elementary School and kindergarten of J. Š. Baara.

Although efforts have been made by the Afghan government and its international partners to promote the tents of gender equality in Afghan society, biases against women and other marginalized groups persist in the society and media sector, particularly. The current study is a timely research because feminist media studies are an under-researched field in the context of Afghanistan. My research aims to be a contribution to this field and open a path for Afghan feminist media studies. The current study explores the representations of gender relations in transnational television soap operas broadcast on Afghan television stations, audiences’ decoding of the representations, and the role of the media in promoting social change. The selected soap operas for the study are Paiman and Qesay Maa, Turkish television soap operas dubbed in the Dari language. The current study is based on feminist theory and feminist methodology, providing a balance of content and reception analysis. Drawing on feminist media studies and focusing on media representations, the content analysis of transnational soap operas echoed previous studies on representations of gender relations and indicated that gender relations are often portrayed in stereotypical and traditional manners. The content analysis further demonstrated that women are objectified in different ways and are often represented as domestic, passive, selfless beings in men’s service. Moreover, relationships between women are often based on rivalry, hatred, and shaming and often without any particular reason. The study also found that contrary to women, men are often represented at outdoor and professional settings. Additionally, grounded on encoding/decoding model through a feminist lens, the thematic analysis of focus group discussions demonstrated that audiences constantly interact with media text and actively make meaning. Interestingly, FGD findings further indicated that as active viewers, both female and male participants, derive multiple and often diverse meanings from the media text. Although both female and male participants problematize the content of transnational soap operas, their interpretations of representations of gender relations and gender equality are dissimilar. The study concludes that transnational soap operas, and the media in general, can play an important role in promoting social change in Afghanistan, particularly gender parity through the Entertainment-Education strategy. However, an intersectional framework is essential in designing EE programmes for promoting gender equality in a diverse society like Afghanistan.

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This diploma thesis deals with the strategic approach to employee training in an organization providing consultancy in the field of technical engineering and technical and economic consulting. Employee education and development is managed by a parent company based in the UK, and the company, aware of the achievement of the organization's strategy and vision, places a lot of emphasis on education. The aim of the diploma thesis is to evaluate the employee training strategy as one of the personnel activities leading to increasing the competitiveness of the organization and gaining a competitive advantage in the market. Understanding the importance of employees training is one of the basic aspects of an efficient organization and a well-defined strategy along with the HR strategy and, last but not least, the corporate education strategy leads to satisfaction both on the part of the organization and on the human resources side. The thesis is divided into theoretical part dealing with organization strategy, strategic approach to education and organization of employee training and subsequently practical part, including analysis of organization and analysis of the educational strategy together with the proposal for changes based on the research carried out. Data analysis uses quantitative research...

In 2002 New Zealand�s government set out to "accelerate" the nation�s "transformation into a knowledge society" (Ministry of Education, 2002a, p. 16). Underpinning the development of this so-called 'knowledge society' was a new approach in the way tertiary education was funded. This included introducing a new contestable model of research funding called Performance-Based Research Funding (PBRF). The research reported here was conducted at a critical juncture in the ongoing development and implementation of PBRF because it captures the experiences of fifteen academics as they encounter PBRF and the Quality Evaluation exercise for the first time. Their experiences of the inaugural 2003 Quality Evaluation exercise were examined using a discourse analysis approach informed by Michel Foucault�s (1926-1984) ideas of 'subjection' and 'governmentality'. 'Subjection' occurs when individuals shape their identities by responding to the multiple discourses that are available to them at any particular time and within any historical context (Foucault, 1969). 'Governmentality' refers to a particular instrument, technique or activity that guides and shapes conduct by producing a compliant human subject capable of supporting the interests and objectives of the state (Foucault, 1994a). In the case of academics this might mean conforming to PBRF policies and practices and participating in the development and transformation of a new 'knowledge society'. In this thesis I examine the potential for PBRF to reshape and redirect the nature of research and suggest that some assessment elements of the 2003 Quality Evaluation were flawed and, as a result, a number of participants in this study were now making decisions about their research that appeared contrary to their best interests. I also investigate PBRF as a field of compliance and argue that the Quality Evaluation exercise represents a technology of government that targets the activities and practices of New Zealand�s research academics with the effect of manifesting a more docile and compliant academic subject. I then question PBRF�s impact on the career aspirations and opportunities of academics and claim that the PBRF Quality Evaluation framework has already shifted from being a mechanism for distributing funds for research to one that identifies and rewards the most 'talented' researchers via institutional appointments and promotions. Finally, I interrogate the pursuit and practice of academic freedom and argue that as a consequence of PBRF, a number of participants in this study have positioned themselves in ways that could diminish and constrain their traditional rights to academic freedom. PBRF has the potential to locate academics within a new status-driven hierarchy of professional validation whereby the Quality Evaluation exercise will purportedly measure, evaluate and reward the most 'talented' researchers and the 'best' research. In this thesis I argue that the PBRF Quality Evaluation framework operates as a form of disciplinary power exercised as part of an international trend of intensifying audit and assessment practices in higher education. In this sense, I claim that PBRF exists as an instrument of governmentality capable of constituting a new type of academic subject by significantly shifting the way academics will have to think and conduct their professional selves in relation to their work and research.

Magistro darbo tikslas – įvertinti dabartinę Lietuvos švietimo reformos būklę bendrojo lavinimo mokyklose ir apžvelgti pagrindines tobulinimo perspektyvas. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad dauguma apklaustųjų Vilniaus r. Buivydiškių pagrindinės mokyklos, Vilniaus Žemynos gimnazijos ir Vilniaus S. Kovalevskajos vidurinės mokyklos mokytojų, švietimo reformą, vykstančią jau 18 metų, vertina neigiamai. Išsiskyrė tik Trakų r. Onuškio vidurinės mokyklos mokytojų nuomonė, nes jie švietimo reformą vertina teigiamai. Bendrojo lavinimo mokyklų mokytojai nurodė pagrindines švietimo reformos kliūtis - neaiškūs švietimo reformos tikslai; reforma vykdoma neturint moksliškai pagrįstos švietimo strategijos; reforma vyksta neaprūpinant reikiamais finansiniais ištekliais; didelės visuomenės dalies nusivylimas reformomis. Respondentai išskyrė tris svarbiausias problemas šiandieninėje mokykloje - per mažas mokytojų atlyginimas; sunkiai įsisavinančių mokymą vaikų daugėjimas; bendras kultūros stygius visuomenėje, gyvenamojoje aplinkoje. Mokytojai išskyrė šias svarbiausias problemas vaikams šiandieninėje Lietuvoje - jie nėra apsaugoti nuo skurdo; per daug mato smurto, sekso scenų per televiziją, internetą; taip pat neapsaugoti nuo narkomanijos pavojaus. Rekomenduojama dažniau atlikti sociologinius tyrimus, gerinant švietimo reformos būklę Lietuvos bendrojo lavinimo mokyklose; daugiau dėmesio skirti švietimo strategijai, konkretizuojant kai kuriuos švietimo vystymo aspektus. / The aim of this master thesis is to evaluate the present situation of Lithuanian education reform in comprehensive schools and overview the perspectives of its development. The results of the analysis show that most teachers-respondents from Vilnius region Buivydiskes Basic School, Vilnius Zemyna Gymnasium and Vilnius S. Kovalevskaja Secondary School express their negative opinion about the education reform taking place already eighteen years. Only teachers from Trakai region Onuskis Secondary School had positive opinion about the education reform. Comprehensive school teachers indicated the main disadvantages of the education reform, which are indefinite purposes of the education reform; the reform is implemented without scientifically proven education strategy and the necessary financial resources; the large majority of the society is disappointed with reforms. The respondents distinguished three main problems in a school today – salaries that are too low; the increasing number of students that have learning difficulties; the general lack of culture in the society and living environment. Teachers indicated such main problems for children in Lithuania – they are not protected from poverty; they watch too much violence, sexual scenes on TV and on the Internet; they are not protected from the danger of the drug abuse. In order to make the reform more effective in Lithuanian comprehensive schools it is recommended to carry out sociological researches more often, to pay more... [to full text]

<p> <p>&nbsp / </p> </p> <p align="left">Within a context of rapid technological change and shifting market conditions, the South African education system is challenged with providing increased education opportunities without increased budgets. Many educational institutions are answering the challenge without increased budgets. Several educational institutions are answering the challenge by developing distance education programs through information technology, but in the case of one institution, strategic intentions involving information technology and distance learning have not been fulfilled. At its most basic level, distance education takes place when a teacher and student(s) are separated by physical distance. Technology, often in combination with face-to-face communication, can be used to bridge instructional gaps. It can be argued that modes of teaching and learning are changing, and we must redefine what is meant by the word &ldquo / student&rdquo / . For example: what should we really call an adult involved in life long learning? The term &ldquo / student&rdquo / seems inappropriate. These types of programs can provide adults with a second chance at tertiary education, reach those disadvantaged by limited time, distance or physical disability, and update the knowledge base of workers at their places of employment. The aim of this research is to determine and understand the growing role of information technology in promoting quality assurance in higher education, and in expanding the education opportunities and workplace learning through the use of distance learning. This work investigates how distance learning can be improved by making use of IT with <font face="Times-Roman" size="3">particular regard to the underprivileged, and the potential contribution to national transformation. This is summarized in the research question: </font><i><font face="Times-Italic" size="3"><font face="Times-Italic" size="3">&ldquo / How can we improve distance learning in South Africa with emerging technologies?&rdquo / </font></font><font face="Times-Roman" size="3">&nbsp / review of the literature, interviews with experts, and reviews of conference papers provided the principle inputs. The academic literatures were supplemented by studies of papers from the Department of Education and other non-academic sources. Based on the reading of the literature, and the views of experts, questionnaires and field experiments were designed and applied to a statistically significant population of respondents. A combination of statistical analysis and content analysis of open questions from the questionnaires lead to comparative evidence about different learning styles and different communities of learners, and the extent to which different learning styles are effective for the different kinds of learners.</font></i></p>

<p> <p>&nbsp / </p> </p> <p align="left">Within a context of rapid technological change and shifting market conditions, the South African education system is challenged with providing increased education opportunities without increased budgets. Many educational institutions are answering the challenge without increased budgets. Several educational institutions are answering the challenge by developing distance education programs through information technology, but in the case of one institution, strategic intentions involving information technology and distance learning have not been fulfilled. At its most basic level, distance education takes place when a teacher and student(s) are separated by physical distance. Technology, often in combination with face-to-face communication, can be used to bridge instructional gaps. It can be argued that modes of teaching and learning are changing, and we must redefine what is meant by the word &ldquo / student&rdquo / . For example: what should we really call an adult involved in life long learning? The term &ldquo / student&rdquo / seems inappropriate. These types of programs can provide adults with a second chance at tertiary education, reach those disadvantaged by limited time, distance or physical disability, and update the knowledge base of workers at their places of employment. The aim of this research is to determine and understand the growing role of information technology in promoting quality assurance in higher education, and in expanding the education opportunities and workplace learning through the use of distance learning. This work investigates how distance learning can be improved by making use of IT with <font face="Times-Roman" size="3">particular regard to the underprivileged, and the potential contribution to national transformation. This is summarized in the research question: </font><i><font face="Times-Italic" size="3"><font face="Times-Italic" size="3">&ldquo / How can we improve distance learning in South Africa with emerging technologies?&rdquo / </font></font><font face="Times-Roman" size="3">&nbsp / review of the literature, interviews with experts, and reviews of conference papers provided the principle inputs. The academic literatures were supplemented by studies of papers from the Department of Education and other non-academic sources. Based on the reading of the literature, and the views of experts, questionnaires and field experiments were designed and applied to a statistically significant population of respondents. A combination of statistical analysis and content analysis of open questions from the questionnaires lead to comparative evidence about different learning styles and different communities of learners, and the extent to which different learning styles are effective for the different kinds of learners.</font></i></p>