Cooper, Heron and Heward define maintenance as the extent to which a learner continues to perform a target behavior after the intervention has been terminated. Testing for maintenance allows the trainer to see if gains were sustained following the termination of a treatment program. In addition, once it is shown that a learner's skills have remained in the repertoire, assessment of generalization is possible. Previous literature in behavior skills training have assessed maintenance in a variety of settings for a variety of skills. Following maintenance assessments, booster sessions are commonly used to re-train skills that did not maintain at criterion levels. The current project assessed the maintenance of caregivers' skills following a training package used to teach three behavior management techniques (use reinforcement, pivot, protect-redirect) at a large, residential care facility. Procedures were developed to assess caregivers' maintenance of the three behavior management techniques using a pre-test- post-test design. If needed, skills were re-established using 5-20 minute booster sessions. The results showed that time between post-test and maintenance did not seem to have a strong effect on maintenance scores. In general, post-test scores were somewhat indicative of maintenance scores, and patterns were most apparent across tools.

Thesis (MPA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / In developing countries like South Africa, a skills shortage is already one of the most important problems of the twenty-first century. Consequently, South African public institutions have adopted an internship programme to enhance skills development, knowledge and experience, concentrating on a particular population. An internship, as established by the South African Cabinet in December 2002, is a graduate work experience programme aimed at unemployed graduates aged 18 to 35. Therefore, the study assessed the impact of the internship programme on skills development in selected government departments in Limpopo Province. Secondary to the aim, the study explored the nature of internship programme and skills development in public institutions. It also evaluated the link between an internship programme and skills development and concluded by highlighting challenges and opportunities for an internship programme. The researcher used a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, with semi-structured questionnaires for current and previous interns, to achieve the study's goals. Face to face interviewing method was used to collect data from public officials in the three selected government departments in Limpopo Province - Department of Education (DOE), Provincial Treasury, and Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. Although public institutions are regarded as hosts of internship programme, pitfalls associated with the internship programme in the South African public institutions persist. The study found, to a large extend, a huge impact of internship programme on skills development in the three selected government departments in Limpopo Province. The study further established that not all participants were clear with the job description of the internship programme. The imprecise job description could confuse interns as they would not know their expected daily performance in government departments. The study argues that such may result in displacement and a lack of sense of belonging among interns within their respective government departments. / (Services SETA)

Thesis (M. Dev. (Planning and Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The current split between the Department of Health and Social Development had made a great impact on employees’ performance. The transition has resulted on previously shared resources to being divided. The division of resources made a great impact on employees’ performance at the Department of Social Development. The adjustment to the transition has been a difficult task towards employees in the department of Social Development. Programme managers whose employees are reporting to, had to come up with management strategies to enhance performance. The research problem is a problem because nothing is known about what the senior management is doing in order to enhance performance at Mopani District. It seems that no study has been conducted to determine the challenges experienced by programme managers on employees’ performance. The major objective of the study to determine the current programmes which are used by the Department to enhance performance in the area of study and to suggest strategies that can be used by the senior management to enhance performance at Mopani District. The nature of this study is qualitative. It is an exploratory study. Data was collected be through semi-structured interviews. The sampling of this study is non-probability sample. In non-probability sampling, the researcher selected purposive sampling. Data was analyzed in a narrative from. Findings show that the programme managers are faced with several challenges in the organization. Programme managers do not have the necessary resources. Programmes offered by the programme managers are not enhancing employees’ performance due to inadequate equipments provided by the department. Current strategies used by the programme managers are no longer relevant, hence poor employees’ performance. The senior managers should be encouraged to develop relevant training programmes, minimize challenges and provide necessary resources that could be employed by the programme managers to enhance the performance of employees at the department of Social Development in Mopani district.

Employee Training and Development (T&D) is a crucial component to an organization’s success and its ability to remain competitive. Although researchers in the field have discovered ways to enhance the effectiveness of training programs through the design, delivery, and evaluation process, research has not provided empirically-based recommendations for how to best train individuals whose cultural backgrounds may influence receptiveness of training curriculum. This is particularly relevant for employees whose cultural groups have been historically discriminated against, where cultural norms implicit in the training design may be met with resistance on behalf of the trainees. In the field of multicultural education, an instructional approach has been suggested to overcome cultural differences between instructor, curriculum writers, and students known as culturally responsive education. I evaluated a pre-training video prime based on this approach in the context of multi-site data-use training program for Native American educational professionals. Data-use training was delivered after exposure to one of two videos that framed the objectives of data use either in a culturally responsive way or in a generic mainstream fashion. Participants filled out surveys after the video but before the training, and then again after the training. Prime type was randomly assigned by training location. I hypothesized that participants who received a culturally responsive training prime would learn more during the data-usage training than participants who did not, and that this effect would be mediated by heightened affective motivators immediately following the culturally responsive prime. None of the hypothesized pathways were supported. There was no direct effect of my prime manipulation on knowledge (Hypothesis 1) or skill acquisition (H2), or on pre-training motivation to learn (H3), research-related self-efficacy (H4), goal-commitment (H5), or identification with research (H6). Furthermore, there were no indirect effects of my manipulation on knowledge (H7) or skill (H8) acquisition through pre-training motivation to learn, self-efficacy, goal-commitment, or identification with research. The motivation to learn subscale for valence had a significant positive direct effect on knowledge and skill acquisition and self-efficacy significantly positively predicted skill acquisition. Goal-commitment and motivation to learn subscales for instrumentality and expectancy had a significant negative relationship with skill acquisition. Lack of support for my hypothesized pathways is explained partially by the failure of my independent variable to influence perceptions of cultural responsiveness. A manipulation check revealed that participants did not appraise my culturally responsive priming video as significantly more relevant or culturally appropriate compared to the alternative mainstream video. Findings on the positive effects of valence and self-efficacy are discussed in support of current literature. Negative effects of expectancy are discussed in terms of stereotype threat. The implications and applications for trainers and researchers in training and minority education are followed by a consideration of this study’s limitations and suggestions for future research.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Educational Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Continuous professional development (CPD) embraces the idea that individuals aim for continuous improvement in their professional knowledge and skills beyond the basic training initially required to carry out the job. CPD is especially critical in schools where the kind of education that students receive is heavily dependent on the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of educators. The purpose of the study was to explore the influence of continuous professional development in promoting quality teaching and learning leading to enhanced student achievement in South African schools. The study was based on a qualitative research approach. The interpretive paradigm and case-study research design were adopted. The researcher employed three research methods of data collection namely; individual interview, focus group and documentary evidence. The population from which the study sample was drawn is defined as all Pietersburg Circuit secondary schools in Polokwane urban. Five schools were drawn from the population to make a sample for the study. Two subjects for the study were principals and educators. The sample consisted of 5 principals and 10 educators to give a total sample size of 15. The research engaged purposive sampling technique. The idea behind purposive sampling was to concentrate on participants with those particular characteristics ideal to supply relevant research data that best enabled me to answer research questions. The researcher chose thematic data analysis. Thematic analysis basically entailed arranging data according to themes evolving. Data was triangulated to determine if data results from different sources supported each other. Findings revealed that both principals and educators were well conversant with the concept of continuous professional development. Continuous professional development in schools was mainly put through school-based, educator-initiated and externally-initiated approaches. Additionally, the findings revealed that the educators were minimally consulted and involved in professional development needs-identification and analysis. Furthermore, study findings showed that evaluations of informal continuous professional development programmes prevailed in schools, but the majority response alluded to the total failure by schools to institute deliberate, planned and documented evaluations. The professional development of educators is regarded as crucial in developing professional skills. Furthermore, it is looked upon as a direct contribution to student achievement. Professional development of educators has long been a key and logically positioned undertaking for improving educator iv satisfaction as well as hope for improved classroom instruction and student achievement. As a result, continuous professional development comes as both a big challenge as well as the best solution to effective teaching and learning in schools. On the basis of the findings of this study, some recommendations were made and possible areas for further research suggested. The primary recommendation of this study is for continuous professional development to match and attempt to address the identified needs of the educators and students alike. That would likely have the desired consequence of a more empowered and enriched educator with the capacity to efficiently and effectively raise student achievement. It could be assumed that, by allowing educators a voice in their own professional development, they would embrace a more vested interest and feel compelled to contribute more.Key concepts Continuous professional development, needs-identification and analysis, educator consultation and involvement, monitoring and evaluating professional development programmes, school-initiated professional development, educator-initiated professional development, externally-initiated professional development, student achievement.

PhD. (Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / The study aimed to analyse the relationship between internal management systems, innovativeness, and the sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within the South African manufacturing sector. Most of the studies in this regard were mainly focusing on large and well-established companies, and the focus would be found to be aligned to only one variable. Studies with reference to SMEs where a linkage amongst the variables is clearly established are limited, thereby providing an impetus to conduct this study. As a result of the changes taking place daily in technology and business operational policies, SMEs typically have to revisit their internal management systems, level of innovativeness, and sustainable measures. Such methods are intended to promote their existence, survival, and growth into the unforeseeable future. A quantitative method based on a positivistic research paradigm was adopted in undertaking the study. The sample consisted of 500 respondents, who were owners, managers, and employees of SMEs in Gauteng Province. The collected data were tested using descriptive and inferential statistics, including Exploratory Factor Analysis, Pearson Correlations and Regression Analysis. Application of factor analysis led to the extraction of two additional SME sustainability factors, namely Employee Training Outcomes and Corporate Compliance to Policy. Of the three internal management systems, only two factors, namely infrastructure development and employee training outcomes, exerted a significant positive influence on innovation. In turn, innovation exerted a significant positive influence on two SME sustainability factors, namely the nature of the product and social sustainability. The study has several implications. Theoretically, the study provides information on how internal management systems relate to innovation. As indicated in the results, only infrastructure development and employee training outcomes exert an influence on innovation and should thus be prioritised when attempting to improve the extent of innovation within SMEs. Likewise, innovation in SMEs results in benefits in terms of the nature of the product and social sustainability only. Practically, the study recommends that there is a need by the South African government through the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Department to review their approach on SMEs so that they can obtain adequate resources to enhance their business success. Additionally, there is a need for both governmental and non-governmental organisations to develop initiatives where SMEs go through the incubation process. During this process, training and business advisory services will be offered for free to equip owner-managers with the relevant business skills. Areas of further research, as well as limitations, were also discussed.

A sample of corporate instructional designers and professors of instructional design completed the "Corporate Instructional Design Scale." The data yielded information on the extent of agreement that descriptive statements identified conventionally and systematically designed instruction. Descriptive and asymmetric log linear (statistical) analyses were conducted. In the asymmetric log linear analyses, the extent of agreement was used as the dependent variable. The three independent variables with three levels each were Program type (conventionally designed instruction, both conventionally and systematically designed instruction, and systematically designed instruction), Instructional component (instructional intents, instructional strategies, and instructional assessments), and Trainer type (professional trainers in manufacturing, professional trainers in non-manufacturing, and professors of instructional design). The asymmetric log linear analysis using 16 models was a 3x3x3x3 factorial design. The extent of agreement on the indicators of conventional instruction was lower than the extent of agreement on the indicators of systematic instruction. The extent of agreement for instructional assessment indicators was lower than the extent of agreement for instructional intents and strategies. There were only minor differences between the extent of agreement on indicators classified as intents and indicators classified as strategies. the extent of agreement on the indicators which differentiated conventionally and systematically designed instruction was higher for the professors of instructional design than for the trainers in manufacturing and non-manufacturing companies. Study results should be carefully considered by professors of instructional design when designing their instructional design courses. The high extent of agreement by professors of instructional design on items that distinguished conventional instruction and systematic instruction suggest that academia is fairly clear about the indicators of instructional design, specially instructional intents and instructional strategies, while the practitioners of instructional design have a substantially lower extent of agreement. These results suggest at least two conclusions. First, the academic world of instructional design is not in tune with the corporate world. Academia has been promoting idealized procedures for instructional design, while practitioners have adjusted their instructional designed to corporate realities of time and cost. Second, corporate instructional designers have found academic world suggestions unrealistic. Corporate instructional designers have made modifications to their instructional designs. Their instructional designs may actually only approximate whatever type of instruction the professional trainers or corporation where they are employed may advocate.

This thesis explores the advancement of language models by focusing on three important perspectives: Algorithms, Architectures, and Applications. We aim to improve the performance, efficiency, and practical usage of these language models. Specifically, we studied reinforcement learning for language models, recurrent memory-augmented transformers, and practical applications in text generation and dialogue systems. Firstly, we address the limitations of the traditional training algorithm, maximum likelihood estimation (MLE). We propose TextGAIL, a generative adversarial imitation learning framework that combines large pre-trained language models with adversarial training to improve the quality and diversity of generated text. We further explore a modern reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF) pipeline to more effectively align language model outputs with human preferences. Next, we investigate architecture improvements with Recurrent Memory-Augmented Transformers. In this direction, we first introduce Memformer, an autoregressive model that utilizes an external dynamic memory for efficient long-sequence processing. We build upon Memformer and propose MemBART, a stateful memory-augmented Transformer encoder-decoder model. Recurrent Memory-Augmented Transformers demonstrate superior performance and efficiency in handling long contexts compared to traditional Transformer architectures. Finally, we make several contributions to effectively applying language models to dialogue systems in practice. We design task-oriented dialogue systems that leverage pre-trained language models to significantly reduce the need for human annotations. We also introduce DiactTOD, a novel approach to improving the out-of-distribution generalization ability of dialogue act-controlled generation in task-oriented systems. In this thesis, we also make progress by expanding the scope of traditional task-oriented dialogue systems by proposing a novel paradigm that utilizes external knowledge tools to provide more accurate knowledge. Our penultimate application tackles the data-scarcity problem common in many real-world dialogue systems. We propose an automatic data augmentation technique to improve training efficacy. Lastly, we make progress on end-user experiences by presenting FaceChat, a multimodal dialogue framework enabling emotionally-sensitive, face-to-face interactions, demonstrating the potential of multimodal language models in various applications. Our work highlights the significance of building better language models, demonstrating how these improvements can positively impact a wide range of downstream tasks and applications. Our work makes a meaningful contribution to language model research, providing valuable insights and methodologies for developing more powerful and efficient models.

To date, there has been little, if any, holistic evaluation of one of the BankSETA programmes that bank employees are nominated to attend, the Certificate in Management Development (CMD). The programme began in 2010 with the aim of increasing the pool of skills in entry-level management occupations in the banking and micro-finance sector (BankSETA, 2016). In order to verify whether the CMD programme has achieved the purpose for which it was instituted by the BankSETA, it is important that a programme evaluation be conducted. The main aim of this study was to undertake a holistic evaluation of the CMD programme to determine students’ perceptions, their increase in knowledge, their ability to apply on-the-job learning and the impact of the programme on the organisation. It also aimed to identify any barriers or obstacles and to provide recommendations to the BankSETA. Kirkpatrick’s (1996) four-level model of reaction, learning, behaviour and results was used as the theoretical framework for this study. A convergent parallel design was used to gather and analyse the data. The convergent design allowed the researcher to use quantitative and qualitative data-collection methods simultaneously, prioritising the methods equally and keeping each phase independent during analysis, and to then mix the results during the overall interpretation of the findings. The findings of this study highlight the importance of programme evaluation and how indispensable this practice is to the success of any programme. Even though positive results were conveyed at every phase of the study, there are certain areas that can be improved upon in order to maximise the outcomes of the CMD programme. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

[Truncated abstract] This study explored the use of English as a global language in multinational settings, particularly in regard to business contexts. The study was undertaken from an applied linguistics perspective with an education focus. An ethnographic approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative data-gathering techniques, was employed. An analysis of the language practices in two multinational companies, one in Malaysia and the other in Hong Kong, served to explore the global role of English. Such observation helped to identify the English and intercultural communication skills that business graduates will require to operate successfully in multinational contexts. Among the skills that were found to be important were the use of English for email communication; greater tolerance for and accommodation of the different accents and varieties of English; the ability to write informal reports in English; development of both oral and written communication skills in English to high levels; and the ability to work collaboratively with people from different national, cultural and linguistic backgrounds . . . More carefully considered teaching and learning approaches, which fully utilise the rich cultural diversity already existing in Australian universities, can assist the development of business graduates who will be more culturally sensitive and able to operate in international/ intercultural contexts. There is scope for further research on similar themes with other multinational companies in the same or different locations; there is also much scope for further work in the area of internationalisation of curriculum, which aims particularly to develop graduates’ intercultural communication skills to enable them to operate confidently in global and multinational settings.