Educators, authors and policymakers continue to address the quality and focus of higher education in the United States. Some have noted the unprecedented number of students entering professional colleges and universities as a gateway to promising careers, while others have suggested that our schools lack the wherewithal to reconstitute the idea of a liberally educated person. Yet, over the past 16 years there has been considerable growth in the number of institutions that have established new graduate programs in Liberal Studies. This study examined the growth associated with those programs and addressed the issues of why the programs were started; whom they served; and, how they fit and operated within their host institutions. The methodology encompassed survey and case study research. The population consisted of the total number of schools actively affiliated with the Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs (AGLSP). / Ed. D.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The changing higher education environment in South Africa has led to a greater emphasis being placed on research production at universities. Currently Stellenbosch University is one of only a handful of strongly research intensive universities in South Africa. The Faculty of Military Science at the South African Military Academy functions (operates) within a partnership agreement between the Department of Defence and Stellenbosch University. The aim of officer education at SAMA is to imbue young officers with a knowledge framework and the attributes of a broad liberal education. As a full Faculty of the University it is incumbent upon personnel in the Faculty to engage in knowledge production and associated scholarly pursuits. This is critical for several reasons: Firstly, for the required intellectual development of each scholar, secondly so as to ensure high quality teaching, and thirdly for funding purposes which are essential for the effective functioning of all faculties. Research is furthermore absolutely indispensable with regards to its contribution to the international and national scientific reach and reputation of the Faculty. To date the Faculty of Military Science has been the lowest performing faculty of Stellenbosch University every year by some considerable margin. The main research question of this study seeks to identify and interpret the reasons for this. In so doing both a bibliometric study and a more qualitative study of the environmental factors between 1990 and 2009 have been conducted. In closing the predominant factors which either drive or inhibit research are identified and possible interventions are suggested. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die veranderende hoër onderwys omgewing in Suid-Afrika het tot 'n groter klem op navorsing produksie by universiteite gelei. Die Universiteit van Stellenbosch is tans een van slegs 'n handvol sterk navorsingsgeoriënteerde universiteite in Suid-Afrika. Die Fakulteit van Krygskunde by die Suid-Afrikaanse Militêre Akademie funksioneer binne die raamwerk van 'n vennootskapsooreenkoms tussen die Departement van Verdediging en die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Die doel van offisiersopvoeding by die SAMA is om jong offisiere met 'n kennis raamwerk en die eienskappe van 'n breë liberale opvoeding toe te rus. As 'n volle Fakulteit van die Universiteit is dit die plig van die fakulteitspersoneel om betrokke te raak in kennisproduksie en verwante wetenskaplike aktiwiteite. Dit is vir 'n paar redes van kritieke belang. Eerstens, is dit nodig vir die intellektuele ontwikkeling van elke akademikus, tweedens verseker dit hoë gehalte-onderrig, en derdens word dit vereis vir befondsingsdoeleindes vir die effektiewe funksionering van alle fakulteite. Navorsing is ook absoluut onontbeerlik vir die nasionale en internasionale wetenskaplike omvang en reputasie van die Fakulteit. Die Fakulteit Krygskunde was tot op hede die laagspresterende fakulteit van die Universiteit Stellenbosch en die agterstand vergroot elke jaar met 'n aansienlike marge. Die sleutel navorsingsvraag van hierdie studie poog om te redes hiervoor vas te stel en te verduidelik. Gevolglik is beide ‘n bibliometriese en ’n kwalitatiewe studie van die faktore wat kennisproduksie in die Fakulteit tussen 1990 en 2009 beinvloed het, gedoen. Ter afsluiting is die oorheersende faktore wat navorsingsbestuur inhibeer geïdentifiseer en moontlike intervensies is voorgestel.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / The MBA programme at the USB comprises two main parts, namely coursework and a research report. Students need to successfully complete both in order to graduate; however, a percentage of students are unsuccessful in that they either a) fail to complete the coursework as well as the research report, or b) successfully complete the coursework but fail to complete the research report. Those in the first category manage to cut their losses by preventing further expenditure of resources; however, those in the second category risk failure after full investment of time and money. The USB has seen an increase in the number of students from the second category; it is an undesirable outcome which needs to be addressed at the institutional and individual level. This research report aims to assist the USB in gaining more insight into this problem, and in addressing it effectively. Since the students themselves are pivotal in the MBA research phase, the research for this report took the form of live, in-depth interviews with MBA students at the USB who have successfully completed their coursework, but have not submitted their research report. The semi-structured interviews were based on themes highlighted in the literature on academic non-completion and delay. The most prominent contributing factors identified, were: a) inadequate preparation for research, which impacted on self-efficacy, i.e. the student’s belief in his/her own research competence; b) student motivation levels, which are influenced by the lack of intrinsic motivation to study, and by perceiving the research report to be irrelevant to their goals; c) timing of topic choice, which some felt came too early and did not allow an informed choice, and which others felt came too late and reduced the research time; and d) the lack of structure and deadlines during the research phase, which was problematic given the students’ expressed need for external pressure to prioritise the research report. In the light of the above factors, suitable recommendations are made on how the USB could address the problem.

楊希. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-169). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in Chinese and English. / Yang xi.

Submitted by Elba Lopes (elba.lopes@fecap.br) on 2017-12-22T13:29:35Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Leandro Bryk.pdf: 323266 bytes, checksum: ca86c944b34183be48a00081abf127b6 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-12-22T13:29:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Leandro Bryk.pdf: 323266 bytes, checksum: ca86c944b34183be48a00081abf127b6 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-28 / The aim of this study was to demonstrate the aspects that influence the trajectory of graduates of Master and Doctoral degree into lines of research in Finance. As it was a descriptive study, the data source used was the curricular information available in CNPq Lattes Platform, from Professors and students of these programs. In this study, we proposed to give an overview about the profile and scientific publications of the graduates, in order to identify factors that affect the scientific production, the continuity of the academic formation, the choice of research lines, and the professional career in Universities. We also aimed to infer whether the Professors?? academic factors, with Doctoral or PhD degree titles, the acquisition of a scholarship, the authorship of international publications, or the membership in teaching staff/ or researchers of first class Universities, have positive effects on the trajectory of graduated students. We verified a high academic productivity in the applied sample, through the general Lotka index, and the Price??s Elitism Law. It was possible to deduct the existence of a positive relationship of Professors concerning their students in the following aspects: educational background, the student??s professional career in teaching and academic production. / Neste estudo, buscou-se evidenciar os aspectos que influenciam a trajet??ria dos egressos dos programas de mestrados e doutorados, com linhas de pesquisa focadas em finan??as. Por se tratar de um estudo de cunho descritivo, utilizou-se, como fonte de dados, os curr??culos disponibilizados na plataforma Lattes, dos docentes e discentes dos referidos programas. Como prop??sito, elaborou-se um panorama sobre o perfil e as publica????es cient??ficas dos egressos, a fim de identificar fatores que impactam a produ????o cient??fica, a continuidade da forma????o acad??mica e a carreira profissional em Institui????es de Educa????o Superior ??? IES. Objetivou-se inferir, ainda, se fatores acad??micos dos docentes, como Doutorado ou PhD, obten????o de Bolsa Produtividade, autoria de publica????es internacionais, ou integra????o no quadro de docentes/ou pesquisadores de IES de primeira linha, influenciam, de forma positiva, a trajet??ria dos egressos. Verificou-se uma alta produtividade acad??mica na amostra utilizada, tanto pelo ??ndice de Lotka Generalizado, bem como pela Lei do Elitismo de Price. Foi poss??vel deduzir a exist??ncia de uma rela????o positiva dos docentes sobre seus egressos nos seguintes aspectos: Forma????o Acad??mica, trajet??ria profissional do egresso na doc??ncia e produ????o acad??mica.

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to investigate the Web search strategies used to retrieve information from the Web by postgraduate students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg campus in order to address the weaknesses of undergraduate students with regard to their Web searching strategies. The study attempted to determine the Web search tactics used by postgraduate students, the Web search strategies (i.e. combinations of tactics) they used, how they determined whether their searches were successful and the search tool they preferred. In addition, the study attempted to contribute toward building a set of best practices when searching the Web. The sample population consisted of 331 postgraduate students, yielding a response rate of 95%. The study involved a two-phased approach adopting a survey in Phase 1 and interviews in the Phase 2. Proportionate stratified random sampling was used and the population was divided into five mutually exclusive groups (i.e., postgraduate diploma, postgraduate certificate, Honours, Master’s and PhD). A pre-test was conducted with ten postgraduate students from the Pietermaritzburg campus. The study revealed that the majority of postgraduate students have been searching the Web for six years or longer and that most postgraduate students searched the Web for information from five to less than ten hours a week. Most respondents gained their knowledge on Web searching through experience and only a quarter of the respondents have been given formal training on Web searching. The Web searching strategies explored contribute to the best practices with regard to Web search strategies, as interviewees were selected based on the highest number of search tactics used and they have several years of searching experience. The study was also able to identify the most preferred Web search tool. It is envisaged that undergraduate students can potentially follow these search strategies to improve their information retrieval. This finding could also be beneficial to librarians in developing training modules that assist undergraduate students to use these Web search tools more efficiently. The final outcome of the study was an adaptation Bates’ (1979) model of Information Search Tactics to suit information searching on the Web. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

The study was undertaken as the first cycle of an action research project. It presents a case study that explores the potential of the combined use of self-, peer-, and tutor-driven assessment in enhancing students’ learning in a professionally orientated postgraduate media management course. The study also explores how such a process can contribute to students developing the skills and dispositions required by autonomous learners and professionals. In approaching these questions the study draws directly on students’ own accounts of their experiences and contrasts these accounts with the growing body of literature on participative assessment in higher education that has emerged over the past decade. The study begins by exploring how action research can aid in the development of valuable insights into educational practice. It draws on educational theorists’ use of Habermas’s (1971, 1972 and 1974 in Grundy, 1987: 8) theory of knowledge constitutive interests in developing a conceptual framework against which assessment practice can be understood and argues against instrumental approaches to assessment. Set against a background of outcomes-based education, the study presents an argument for privileging the role of assessment in promoting learning above its other function. It contends that this function is undermined if students are excluded from direct involvement in assessment practice. Informed by research into participative assessment, the study presents a thick description of a particular approach used during the action research cycle and explores how students experienced this process. The findings of the study support theories favouring the involvement of students in their own assessment and suggest that such processes can contribute to meeting students’ present and future learning needs.

Esta dissertação se insere na linha de Pesquisa de Gestão da Inovação e Competitividade, vinculada ao curso de Mestrado em Administração da Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS), que tem por objetivo estudar a relação entre a gestão da inovação e a competitividade no contexto global, tendo em vista a inserção da UCS na região de abrangência da Serra Gaúcha. Especificamente, a pesquisa caracterizou e analisou as inovações implementadas nas Práticas de Gestão nos cursos de Mestrado Acadêmico em Administração da Universidade de Caxias do Sul (UCS), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM) e Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI). Por meio da metodologia de estudo de caso, descritivo e exploratório, a pesquisa relata as práticas de gestão e os processos inovadores que estão sendo realizados nestes cursos. A literatura abordada delineia os conceitos de inovação e tipos em quatro dimensões – inovações em produto, processo, marketing e organizacional. A análise de dados obtidos nas entrevistas realizadas revelou que estas universidades investem em inovações nas linhas de pesquisa e projetos que envolvem discentes, docentes e parcerias de instituições internacionais, oferecendo o curso de Mestrado como um produto de qualidade. Os cursos de MAA também apresentam uma integração com professores de universidades do exterior, fornecendo inovação em projetos. Verificou-se que os investimentos na inovação de um corpo docente podem modificar as linhas de pesquisa em parceria com empresas. Também foram considerados os investimentos em fomentos e editais que geram a aquisição de bolsas de pesquisa e recursos para as próprias universidades. Os resultados demonstraram que os cursos pesquisados são inovadores, porque realizaram pelo menos uma inovação no período da pesquisa, conforme indicado no Manual de Oslo (2009). Em sua maioria, as inovações estavam relacionadas a processos. / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2015-08-06T17:21:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Flavia Marcolina.pdf: 1731049 bytes, checksum: 29e3067e93a389075c4cb127cfb1dd6a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-08-06T17:21:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Flavia Marcolina.pdf: 1731049 bytes, checksum: 29e3067e93a389075c4cb127cfb1dd6a (MD5) / This project fits within the Research for the Management of Innovation and Competitiveness program, linked to the Master of Administration at the University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), which aims to study the relationship between the management of innovation and global competitiveness, with a view to their inclusion in the south of the country, area covered by the UCS. Specifically, the search feature and discuss the innovations implemented in Management Practices in the Master in Academic Administration, University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), University Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM) and University of Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI). Through case study methodology, descriptive and exploratory, this research reported management practices and innovative processes that have been made in these courses. Through the concepts and types of innovation discussed in the literature in its four dimensions – innovation in product, process, organizational and marketing – the analysis of the collected data revealed that the universities invest in innovations in the projects of research which involve alumni, professors and partnerships with international institutions, offering the Masters Course as a quality product. Universities also have a knowledge innovation and integration with teachers from universities abroad by providing innovative design and stock paid in marketing strategies and Administration and Information. It has been verified that investments in innovation of an university can modify the projects of research in partnerships with other companies. The results also showed that the researched universities are innovatives, because effected at least one type of innovation during the data collection.

CAPES / Os programas de pós-graduação em Administração cresceram 40% entre os anos de 2009 e 2014, tornando necessária uma avaliação para assegurar a qualidade desses cursos, identificar as assimetrias regionais e de áreas estratégicas do conhecimento. O objetivo desta dissertação é utilizar a Analise por Envoltória de Dados (DEA – data envelopment analysis) e DEA Window para analisar a eficiência dos cursos e sua evolução entre os triênios. De acordo com as entradas e saídas adotadas essa dissertação contribui para a análise da eficiência acadêmica dos cursos. Foram utilizados dados da pós-graduação em Administração nas universidades brasileiras, dos programas que possuem doutorado em Administração, entre os anos de 2004 a 2006, 2007 a 2009 e de 2010 a 2012. No triênio de 2004 a 2006 23,5% dos programas avaliados foram eficientes. Entre 2007 e 2009 39% dos programas foram eficientes e entre 2010 a 2012 48,6% dos programas atingiram eficiência máxima. Ao resolver o DEA Window o período que se destacou foi 2007 a 2009 com o maior número de programas com eficiência máxima, na média por janelas mais da metade dos cursos estão com eficiência entre 99% e 80%. Observa-se o aumento das publicações qualificadas e no número de teses. Em compensação o número de docentes permanentes diminuiu em quase todos os programas. Diminuiu também o número de trabalhos publicados em anais de eventos técnico-científicos, já que, esses não contaram como produções bibliográficas. / The postgraduate programs in business grew 40% between 2009 and 2014, therefore, an assessment is necessary to ensure the quality of these courses, identify regional asymmetries and strategic areas of knowledge. The purpose of this work is to use the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and DEA Window to analyze the efficiency of the courses and their evolution between the years. According to the inputs and outputs adopted this dissertation contributes to the analysis of academic efficiency of the Business in postgraduate couses. The data used is from programs in Brazilian universities that have a PhD in Business, between the years 2004 to 2006, 2007 to 2009 and 2010 to 2012. In the period from 2004 to 2006 23.5% of the evaluated programs were effective. Between 2007 and 2009 39% of the programs were efficient and between 2010 to 2012 48.6% of programs reached maximum efficiency. To solve the DEA Window the period that stood out was from 2007 to 2009 with the largest number of programs with maximum efficiency on window average more than half of the courses have efficiency between 99% and 80%. Observed an increase in qualified publications and the number of theses. In contrast the number of permanent teachers decreased in almost all programs. also decreased the number of papers published in proceedings of technical-scientific events as these did not count as bibliographic productions.

CAPES / Os programas de pós-graduação em Administração cresceram 40% entre os anos de 2009 e 2014, tornando necessária uma avaliação para assegurar a qualidade desses cursos, identificar as assimetrias regionais e de áreas estratégicas do conhecimento. O objetivo desta dissertação é utilizar a Analise por Envoltória de Dados (DEA – data envelopment analysis) e DEA Window para analisar a eficiência dos cursos e sua evolução entre os triênios. De acordo com as entradas e saídas adotadas essa dissertação contribui para a análise da eficiência acadêmica dos cursos. Foram utilizados dados da pós-graduação em Administração nas universidades brasileiras, dos programas que possuem doutorado em Administração, entre os anos de 2004 a 2006, 2007 a 2009 e de 2010 a 2012. No triênio de 2004 a 2006 23,5% dos programas avaliados foram eficientes. Entre 2007 e 2009 39% dos programas foram eficientes e entre 2010 a 2012 48,6% dos programas atingiram eficiência máxima. Ao resolver o DEA Window o período que se destacou foi 2007 a 2009 com o maior número de programas com eficiência máxima, na média por janelas mais da metade dos cursos estão com eficiência entre 99% e 80%. Observa-se o aumento das publicações qualificadas e no número de teses. Em compensação o número de docentes permanentes diminuiu em quase todos os programas. Diminuiu também o número de trabalhos publicados em anais de eventos técnico-científicos, já que, esses não contaram como produções bibliográficas. / The postgraduate programs in business grew 40% between 2009 and 2014, therefore, an assessment is necessary to ensure the quality of these courses, identify regional asymmetries and strategic areas of knowledge. The purpose of this work is to use the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and DEA Window to analyze the efficiency of the courses and their evolution between the years. According to the inputs and outputs adopted this dissertation contributes to the analysis of academic efficiency of the Business in postgraduate couses. The data used is from programs in Brazilian universities that have a PhD in Business, between the years 2004 to 2006, 2007 to 2009 and 2010 to 2012. In the period from 2004 to 2006 23.5% of the evaluated programs were effective. Between 2007 and 2009 39% of the programs were efficient and between 2010 to 2012 48.6% of programs reached maximum efficiency. To solve the DEA Window the period that stood out was from 2007 to 2009 with the largest number of programs with maximum efficiency on window average more than half of the courses have efficiency between 99% and 80%. Observed an increase in qualified publications and the number of theses. In contrast the number of permanent teachers decreased in almost all programs. also decreased the number of papers published in proceedings of technical-scientific events as these did not count as bibliographic productions.