The concepts of intersectionality and interlocking identities came out of needs raised by communities and then academics wrote about it. This dissertation examines these concepts and how these resonate with the ways that feminist educators conceptualize and facilitate non-credit learning processes with women. This research focuses on 10 differently-located feminist educators and the processes they lead that meet a range of learning goals. Specifically, this research examines the learning practices that these educators used to help women learners gain a consciousness around their identity and issues of power and oppression. I then discuss how these practices resonate with the theoretical frameworks of intersecting and interlocking oppressions. Anti-oppression, feminist informed research and feminist standpoint theories informed the research approach. The Critical Appreciative Process, which builds on the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) method, was used to explore what is working within feminist non-credit learning processes. In addition, two case studies were elaborated on in order to examine the learning practices that were particularly successful. The educators reflected on several barriers involved in bringing differently-located women together to explore and address the power dynamics associated with power and oppression. These included the defensiveness, denial and avoidance associated with acknowledging and addressing privilege. The educators also shared effective practices for addressing such barriers. Key practices included creating an environment for difficult conversations, working intergenerationally, using theoretical frameworks to deconstructing interpersonal dynamics occurring in the group and providing tools to draw on everyday experiences and challenge (inappropriate) behaviours. Additionally, specific activities for raising learners’ awareness of their own complex and multiple identities and how these identities are co-constructed through interactions with others were detailed. This study revealed the limitations of intersectionality and interlocking identities frameworks in praxis, as well as the ways in which an awareness of identity, difference and power creates an entry point for intersectional and interlocking awareness that aids feminist movements. This research makes a contribution to strengthening the praxis of feminist educators facilitating non-credit processes. Within feminist theorizing, this research also makes an important contribution in contextualizing intersectionality and interlocking identities frameworks within a range of feminist non-credit learning practices.

The topic of integrating the formal learning of graduates with their informal workplace learning has been debated for many years. In practice, however, these two types of learning still exist as two polar opposites, especially in the field of statistics. This study examined the effectiveness of an internship programme as a means to integrate the formal learning of statisticians with their informal workplace learning. Based on the findings, a framework was proposed to ensure integration between the formal and informal workplace learning of statisticians. The study employed a mixed-method approach that combined quantitative and qualitative data collection. Quantitative data were collected from respondents (statisticians who participated in the internship programme and were permanently employed at the time of the study) through an online survey, and qualitative data were collected from managers (who served as mentors to the interns) through conducting semi-structured, one-on-one interviews. Documents pertaining to the internship programme in place at Statistics South Africa were also studied. Many developing countries still lack the capacity to produce, analyse and use the range of quality statistics required to support effective development progress. This study suggested a new way of integrating the formal learning with the informal workplace learning of statisticians, which involved adding a practical component (an internship) to the formal learning of statisticians, therefore, combining an internship during formal learning with an internship upon the completion of formal learning. In this way, statisticians are better capacitated because they can apply their formally obtained knowledge and skills in practice both while being engaged in their formal studies as well as after completing their studies, ensuring integration between formal and informal workplace learning. Crucial factors that would play a role in ensuring success are, for instance, if intern statisticians are placed in areas that are commensurate with their formal learning (thus ensuring utilisation of their skills) and if the level of the tasks assigned to them matches their cognitive ability. Support for interns’ informal learning in the form of mentorship, developmental assignments and training and development opportunities are also crucial to ensure integration between their formal learning and informal workplace learning. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

Sjukvården är den arbetsplats som anses vara särskilt utsatt för arbetsrelaterad stress och har under senare år fått uppmärksamhet inom forskning. Sjuksköterskor rapporterar att de upplever stress för att de inte har tillräcklig kompetens för att kunna hantera sitt arbete. Samtidigt ska arbetsplatsen säkerställa att medarbetare besitter den kunskap som efterfrågas både i nutid och framtid. En arbetsplats som satsar på kompetensutveckling kan bidra till att både kort- och långsiktiga verksamhetsmål uppnås. Syftet med studien var att undersöka upplevd stress i förhållande till behov av kompetens hos sjukvårdspersonal. För att besvara studiens syfte utfördes en kvantitativ enkätundersökning på sjukvårdspersonal från olika avdelningar på sjukhuset, där totalt 56 respondenter deltog i studien. Vidare analyserades resultatet med hjälp av SPSS genom en korrelationsanalys som presenteras genom tabeller skapade med SPSS. I studien mäts behovet av kompetens genom formellt och informellt lärande. Resultatet i studien visar att det fanns ett samband mellan behovet av kompetensutveckling och stress. Sambandet mellan kompetensutveckling och stress grundar sig enbart mellan behovet av formellt lärande och stress, då det inte fanns något signifikant samband mellan behovet av informellt lärande och stress. Slutsatsen av studien är att utökade kompetensutvecklingsinsatser kan resultera i att sjukvårdspersonalen bättre hanterar arbetskrav och att det kan minska upplevd stress. / Healthcare is the workplace that is considered to be particularly vulnerable to work-related stress and has in recent years received attention in research. Nurses report that they experience stress because they do not have sufficient skills to handle their work assignments. At the same time, the workplace must ensure that employees possess the knowledge that is demanded both in the present and in the future. A workplace that focuses on skills development can help achieve both short- and long-term business goals. The purpose of the study was to investigate perceived stress in relation to the requirement in competence of healthcare professionals at a hospital. To answer the purpose of the study, a quantitative survey was carried out on healthcare professionals from various departments of the hospital, in which a total of 56 respondents participated in the study. Furthermore, the results were analyzed using SPSS and also correlation analysis presented by tables created with SPSS. The results of the study show that there was a significant relationship between the need for competence development and stress. The relationship between competence development and stress is based solely on the connection between the need for formal learning and stress, as there was no significant relationship between the need for informal learning and stress. The conclusion of the study is that increased competence development can result in healthcare workers to better manage work demands and may help to reduce the perception of stress.

”Varje människa bär på en samling utav kunskap. Tänk om man kunde skapa en miljö där alla människor kunde få slå upp dörrarna till sitt lilla magasin. En miljö där man ser varje människa som en möjlighet. En möjlighet till att lära sig mer. En resurs i Kunskapsfabriken.” Kunskapsfabriken slår upp dörrarna i kvarteret Kronan och välkomnar stadens människor. Som en del utav Sundbyberg centrum bidrar byggnaden med ett center för det icke-formella lärandet där kreativitet, skapande och gemenskap är i fokus. Kunskapsutbytet, praktisk kunskap och tron på att alla människor är en möjlighet till att lära sig mer genomsyrar projektet. Kunskapsfabriken arbetar aktivt med integration och ger plats åt SFI-utbildning i programmet. Den traditionella språkundervisningen kan på så sätt kombineras med ett program för det praktiska lärandet där språket inte är en nödvändighet. Där kroppen och framförallt händerna blir det viktigaste verktyget för lärande. / ”Every individual carries a collection of knowledge. What if you could create a space where everyone could open the doors to their own little depository? A space where every individual is seen as an opportunity. An opportunity to learn more. A resource in the Factory of Knowledge.” The Factory of Knowledge opens its doors and welcomes the people of the city. As a part of central Sundbyberg it acts as a center for non-formal education where creativity, creation and community are the focal points. The sharing of knowledge, practical knowledge and the belief in every individual as an opportunity to learn more permeates the project. The Factory of Knowledge actively strives towards integration and makes space for ”Swedish for Immigrants”-education. The traditional language pedagogy can therefore becombined with a program for practical learning where language is not a necessity. Where our body and above all our hands become the most important tool for learning.

Les adultes allophones peu ou pas scolarisés (AAPPS) rencontrent des défis pour effectuer des tâches essentielles dans la société québécoise en raison de leurs compétences langagières limitées. Leur intégration socioculturelle et professionnelle s’avère donc difficile et soulève des enjeux socioéconomiques tant pour les AAPPS que pour la société en pénurie de main-d’œuvre. En apprenant le français dans le contexte formel de scolarité, les AAPPS font face à d’autres défis d’acculturation aux conventions scolaires, notamment aux évaluations formelles des apprentissages. En étudiant les particularités des AAPPS, Abbott et al. (2021), de même que Gonzalves (2020) ont mis en question l’évaluation de ce public parce qu’elle est faite de l’angle des personnes scolarisées sans considérer la perspective des AAPPS. Quant à Altherr Flores (2020), elle a critiqué la tendance à supposer que les AAPPS comprenaient l’évaluation alors qu’ils ignoraient les attentes des évaluateurs et leur rôle comme évalué selon Simpson (2006). Ces préoccupations soulèvent des enjeux éthiques d’équité, de diversité et de différenciation pédagogique pour une évaluation adéquate, d’où l’intérêt au sens de l’expérience évaluative aux yeux des AAPPS en cours formelle de francisation. Pour ce faire, l’approche phénoménologique de Giorgi (1997) permet d’étudier l’expérience des phénomènes vécus telle que comprise par les acteurs sociaux. L’analyse de six entretiens individuels semi-dirigés menés en arabe maghrébin, auprès de six participantes issues du Maghreb, permet de comprendre l’expérience évaluative des AAPPS comme un processus dynamique et continu d’exploration, d’acculturation et de maturation. L’exploration met en relief les premières expériences évaluatives caractérisées par la confrontation à la nouveauté, la surprise, le stress et le choc de l’échec. En acculturation, les AAPPS approprient l’évaluation et développent des stratégies pour réussir et pour gérer le stress qui diminue, mais demeure présent. Et en maturation, elles et ils réfléchissent sur leur évaluation, échec et réussite en lien avec leur besoin et habileté à l’extérieur de la classe. Ces résultats contribuent à éclairer les angles morts de l’expérience évaluative des AAPPS et présentent un appui pour les conceptrices et concepteurs des évaluations visant ce public. / Allophone adults with little or no schooling (AAPPS) face challenges in performing essential tasks in Quebec because of their limited language skills. Their socio-cultural and professional integration is therefore difficult and raises socio-economic issues both for the AAPPS and for the society facing a labour shortage. Learning French in the context of formal schooling, AAPPS face challenges related to acculturation to school conventions, particularly those of formal learning assessment. Based on the particularities of AAPPS, Abbott et al. (2021) as well as Gonzalves (2020) have questioned the assessment of this audience because it is made from the angle of educated people without considering the perspective of AAPPS. As for Altherr Flores (2020), she criticized the tendency to assume that AAPPS understood the assessment while ignoring the fact that AAPPS might misunderstand the expectations of the evaluators and their role as evaluated according to Simpson (2006). These concerns raise ethical issues of equity, diversity, and pedagogical differentiation for an adequate assessment, hence the interest in the meaning that the AAPPS give to their assessment experience in the formal francization course. The phenomenological approach of Giorgi (1997) makes it possible to study the experience of lived phenomena as understood by social actors. The analysis of the six semi-directed individual interviews conducted with six participants from the Maghreb in Maghrebi Arabic, allows us to understand the evaluative experience of the AAPPS as a dynamic and continuous process of exploration, acculturation, and maturation. Exploration concerns the first evaluative experiences characterized by the confrontation with novelty, surprise, stress, and the shock of failure. In the acculturation phase, AAPPS appropriate assessment and develop strategies to succeed and manage stress that diminishes but remains present. And in maturation, they reflect on their assessment, failure, and success in relation to their needs and abilities outside the classroom. These results shed light on blind spots of the AAPPS assessment experience and provide support for designers of assessment aimed at this audience.

Early childhood development is one of the critical services to support the development of young children from conception to age six. Children raised in vulnerable inner cities, with limited access to quality, well-resourced ECD services, are at risk of perpetuating cycles of disadvantage and exclusion. Even though ECD centres exist in abundance in the inner city of Durban, eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, managers of ECD centres face challenges such as meeting rigorous registration norms and standards, a lack of finances, resources, trained staff and socio-economic factors which affect the wellbeing of children. Using a qualitative approach, this study communicates the role played by the Inner City ECD Forum in the learning experiences of seven ECD managers through their participation in inter-sectoral stakeholder interventions and capacity building trainings. It further outlines the benefits of networking and collective support. Based on the findings, recommendations for practice, policy and further research are made. / School of Social Sciences / M.A. (Social Work)