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. / 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.

This study examined the effectiveness of employing videoconferencing and Web-based instruction in the preparation of special education personnel. Due to the acute shortage of special education personnel, it was anticipated that the use of videoconferencing and online instruction would provide a convenient way for students to attend class without having to travel to the actual location of the educational site. Further, it was believed that this initiative would result in higher student enrollment in special education teacher certification programs, consequently leading to an increase of personnel in the field. Moreover, the increase in personnel would enhance the ability of educational institutions to address the dismal academic, social, and behavioral outcomes of students with disabilities. Information for the study was collected from surveys that investigated how students perceived the use of videoconferencing and web-based instruction in the preparation of special education personnel. Ninety-four graduate students responded to the videoconferencing surveys while 88 responded to the Web-based instruction surveys. Six respondents were randomly selected to participate in face-to-face interviews designed to investigate the effectiveness of both approaches. Findings indicated that videoconferencing and Web-based instruction are convenient ways for students to attend class although videoconferencing sites may not be conveniently located to all learners. Furthermore, the effectiveness of these media depends on several factors: the instructor, the course structure, the learners' learning styles, the quality and quantity of interaction between learners and the instructor, and whether technological problems interfere with the learning process. The study determined that the more structured and organized the course, the more significant the learning outcomes. Also, the maturity level of the students lends itself to accountability toward achieving the desired learning goals. Technological problems and the lack of user-friendly technology lower the effectiveness of videoconferencing and Web-based instruction. Further research will be valuable in improving theories and approaches currently used in the application of videoconferencing and Web-based instruction in the preparation of special education personnel.

“Under Wendy Bishop’s Eye” examines the teaching, learning, and social environment of a graduate student in an American creative writing MFA program in the early years of the 21st century. This dissertation is a work of autofiction; it is both an autoethnography and a fictionalized story written in the form of a novel. The project uses the scholarship of writing studies’ leader Wendy Bishop to discuss and analyze the dynamics of graduate student learning in creative writing courses, undergraduate learning in creative writing courses, graduate student teaching in creative writing courses, and graduate student teaching in expository writing or first-year composition courses at a four-year college. The project addresses the limitations of the “workshop method” for teaching creative writing, while supporting the benefits of writing pedagogy that includes cross-genre writing exercises in all university-level writing courses, specifically bringing “personal writing” and creative non-fiction into both creative writing and first-year composition course.

The purpose of the investigation was to collect information from ninety representative art museums in Europe and North America, with visits made to forty-five and a validated questionnaire sent to the others; to study their research-oriented publications as to contents; and to organize the data so that they would be of value to graduate art students. Although this information will be of value to scholars, undergraduate students, and museum personnel, the study was restricted to the graduate art student because some museum libraries restrict their facilities to this educational level.

The purpose of this project is to update the architecture and design of the California State University San Bernardino Graduate Advisor System. This system allows potential students into the Master of Science degree program in Computer Science to complete their application online.

Based on widespread perceptions and short-term reports that most research masters and doctoral students at the University of Ghana spend unusually long durations to complete their studies due to their inability to complete and submit their theses on time and unduly long waiting periods for thesis results, the researcher decided to investigate these phenomena to identify the root causes. The aim of the study therefore, was to establish empirical basis for this problem and to recommend ways of strengthening postgraduate study delivery at the University of Ghana, based on input from past students, faculty, and the University‟s external publics who have a stake in promoting postgraduate studies and research. To achieve this aim, the researcher set out the framework within which the study should be conducted in Chapter One, and reviewed literature on the theories and concepts of throughput and student throughput in particular as well as global student throughput trends and postgraduate candidature models in Chapter Two. To fully appreciate the delivery of postgraduate studies and throughput trends at the study institution, Chapter Three was devoted to the review of the University of Ghana‟s postgraduate study delivery system, and its enrolment and output statistics compared with similar trends in other African Universities. The research design was explained in Chapter Four, and, guided to adopt the mixed methods approach because of its efficacy in rendering research findings credible and reliable, a number of past masters and doctoral students who extended their candidatures while at the University of Ghana provided data by completing questionnaires. Thesis supervisors and examiners selected on the basis of experience also provided data by completing questionnaire, heads of departments, past deans and thesis schedule officers and the Ghana Education Trust Fund Secretariat provided information through interviews. To further unravel specific cases of the phenomenon, which might not be obtained by means of questionnaire and interviews, relevant information were extracted from selected case files that typify cases of delayed candidature and non-completions. In Chapter Five, Quantitative data were analyzed statistically, qualitative data were analyzed using the open coding method, and documentary data were analyzed using content analysis. The findings and recommendations from the study were reported in Chapter Six. The findings confirmed the perceptions and reports and the major factors responsible for delayed completion and non-completion, including other unpopular factors were identified and discussed. Recommendations were made to address the findings, with particular reference to the role of each stakeholder in strengthening postgraduate study delivery to ensure high throughput at the University of Ghana. In the end, three models were developed for improving candidature durations for masters and doctoral candidates, and for ensuring timely examination of theses. The researcher hopes that, if implemented, the recommendations would help to improve postgraduate study delivery and throughput at the University of Ghana. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

Lecturers’ research output in higher education in Zimbabwe is low in general and at Mentors University (pseudonym) in particular. Although lecturers at Mentors University are expected to publish to avoid career stagnation, most lecturers are not tenured due to lack of publications in peer refereed journals with an aggregate impact factor of 0.5. The study aimed at formulating a model for developing lecturers’ research skills and its empirical testing to address the problem. A literature review examined theories of competency development and mentoring models. The informal group mentoring strategy was structured for application in a qualitative participatory action research design. A questionnaire captured factors influencing lecturer research output from a purposive sample of 260 lecturers at Mentors University. Another purposive sample of five lecturers participated in implementing the informal group mentoring intervention for model empirical testing. All participants had failed to publish, were available volunteers and committed to the intervention. The intervention comprised determining qualities of publishable papers through desk research; an evaluative reading of published and rejected papers; peer discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of papers; practice of research; the oral reporting of findings; peer evaluation of papers and the incorporation of peer critique into papers to improve quality prior to paper submission to journals. Survey findings indicated that research output was affected by a lack of both research and publishing skills and mentoring by research supervisors. Participants in the intervention entertained misconceptions of problem formulation, research design and application of probability sampling concepts. Computer skills for data analysis and oral presentation were poor. Further, the university had no policy for lecturer research skills development. As a result of the intervention, all five participants published a paper. The study concluded that lecturers can develop research skills for publication by forming informal mentoring groups; obtaining the services of a mentor; and applying the informal group mentoring model. It was recommended that the universities include development of research skills in their policies and train mentors for the application of the informal group mentoring research skill development model in new universities in Zimbabwe. / Educational Management and Leadership / D. Ed. (Education Management)

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.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to establish a theoretical and practical framework for supervision to social work students at training institutions that are based on the outcomes of developmental social work in South Africa, as contained in the White Paper for Welfare (1997). The motivation for this study is the contribution that it can make to the reality that the paradigm shift of the developmental perspective on supervision to students contains. This research was done based on an extensive literature study, which focused on the conceptualisation of supervision to social work students from a social developmental perspective. The systemic nature of supervision to students was examined, after which the models for supervision to students were analysed. The functions of supervision by means of the management, educational and support functions are also broadly defined. The empirical investigation of the study dealt with the current state of supervision to social work students at training institutions in South Africa. From the empirical investigation a social developmental perspective was developed, which indicates that supervision to social work students in South Africa can be defined as a process of education, support and management so as to develop students' competencies according to the outcomes of the training institution's field practice education programme, so that students can integrate the theory and practice of social work. Supervision also involves interactive guidance, based on educational needs, academic development and empowerment of students. The abovementioned perspective was evaluated by supervisors of students at tratrung institutions in South Africa, the majority of whom supported the perspective. From the social developmental perspective that was formulated, conclusions and recommendations were made that can serve as a framework for supervision of social work students. The framework for situation-relevant supervision, which is accounted for eco-systemically, is based on a competency model and is empowering in its nature. This is the contribution that this study makes to field practice education to social work students. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om 'n teoretiese en praktiese raamwerk daar te stel vir supervisie van maatskaplikewerkstudente by opleidingsinstansies wat op die uitkomste van ontwikkelingsgerigte maatskaplike werk in Suid-Afrika, soos vervat in die Witskrif vir Welsyn (1997), gebaseer is. Hierdie studie is gemotiveer deur die bydrae wat dit kan Iewer tot die realiteit wat die paradigmaskuif van die ontwikkelingsgerigte perspektief in maatskaplike werk vir supervisie van studente inhou. Die ondersoek is gedoen aan die hand van 'n uitgebreide literatuurstudie, wat op die konseptualisering van supervisie aan maatskaplikewerkstudente vanuit 'n maatskaplike ontwikkelingsgerigte perspektief gefokus het. Die sistemiese aard van supervisie aan studente is ondersoek, waarna die aard van die modelle vir supervisie aan studente ontleed is. Die funksies van supervisie deur middel van die bestuurs-, onderrig- en ondersteuningsfunksie word ook breedvoerig omskryf. Die empiriese ondersoek van die studie het oor die huidige stand van supervisie aan maatskaplikewerkstudente by opleidingsinstansies in Suid-Afrika gehandel. Vanuit die empiriese ondersoek is 'n maatskaplike ontwikkelingsgerigte perspektief ontwerp wat daarop dui dat supervisie aan maatskaplikewerkstudente in Suid-Afrika omskryf kan word as 'n proses van onderrig, ondersteuning en bestuur om studente se bekwaamhede volgens die uitkomste van die opleidingsinstansie se praktykonderrigprogram te ontwikkel, sodat studente die teorie en praktyk van maatskaplike werk kan integreer. Supervisie behels ook interaktiewe Ieiding, gebaseer op onderrigbehoeftes, akademiese ontwikkeling en bemagtiging van studente. Die bogenoemde perspektief is deur supervisors van studente by opleidingsinstansies in Suid-Afrika oorwegend ondersteunend geevalueer. Vanuit die maatskaplike ontwikkelingsgerigte perspektief wat geformuleer is, is gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings gemaak, wat as raamwerk vir supervisie van maatskaplikewerkstudente kan dien. Die raamwerk vir situasie-relevante supervisie, wat ekosistemies verantwoord word, gegrond is op 'n kompetensiemodel en bemagtigend van aard is, is dus die bydrae wat hierdie studie tot praktykonderrig aan maatskaplikewerkstudente bied.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated the challenges for journalism education and training (JE&T) in a post-1994 transforming South Africa. Prior to 1994, South Africa had three distinct university systems with different ideological orientations, namely historically Afrikaans-language universities, historically English-language universities, and historically “black” universities. The consequence of these orientations in the university system caused a paradigmatic schism in the field of JE&T. The advent of democracy in 1994 necessitated the questioning of this division in higher education. One could assume that there was need to transform the JE&T curricula so that it could address the challenges of a society in transformation. This study, therefore, aimed to establish whether JE&T curricula in three selected tertiary institutions in post-1994 South Africa have transformed in line with the transformation process in the country. The post-colonial theory, developmental journalism model and Ubuntu philosophy were deemed the most appropriate theoretical points of departure from which to analyse the curricula. A collective case study was used as a research design. To collect data, a mixedmethod approach, which utilised both qualitative and quantitative approaches, was used. Qualitative data were collected through use of programme documents from the selected journalism tertiary institutions and a semi-structured questionnaire, which was distributed to programme coordinators. Quantitative data were obtained through the structured questionnaire which was completed by students in the selected programmes. The qualitative data obtained were analysed using qualitative content analysis, while quantitative data were analysed using the statistical package SPSS version 18. The data were then analysed and discussed in terms of the selected theories. The analysis revealed that the three programmes are highly dependent on Western epistemologies. The programmes have a close relationship with the media industry, a relationship which at times can be a double-edged sword. The findings also show that the programme coordinators of these programmes are not averse to the transformation of curricula provided the process takes into cognisance Western epistemologies. The results also showed that in terms of gender and race, transformation has either been insignificant or non-existent. Lastly, all three programmes do not teach their students to report in indigenous languages. The final conclusion of the study is that JE&T in the selected programmes are not yet addressing the challenges of a transforming post-1994 South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het die uitdagings aan joernalistieke opvoeding en opleiding (JO&O) in ’n post-1994, transformerende Suid-Afrika ondersoek. Voor 1994 het Suid-Afrika drie verskillende universiteitstelsels met verskillende ideologiese oriëntasies gehad, naamlik historiese Afrikaanse universiteite, historiese Engelse universiteite en historiese “swart” universiteite. Die gevolg van hierdie oriëntasies in die universiteitstelsel het ’n paradigmatiese skisma in die veld van JO&O veroorsaak. Die koms van demokrasie in 1994 het die bevraagtekening van hierdie skeiding in hoër onderwys genoodsaak. Die aanname kon gemaak word dat daar ’n behoefte was om JO&O kurrikula te transformeer sodat dit aan die uitdagings van ’n samelewing in oorgang kon beantwoord. Hierdie studie het dus beoog om vas te stel of JO&O kurrikula in drie geselekteerde tersiêre inrigtings in ’n post-1994 SuidAfrika saam met die landgetransformeer het. Die postkoloniale teorie, ontwikkelingsjoernalistiek-teorie en Ubuntu-filosofie is geoordeel om die mees toepaslike teoretiese vertrekpunte te wees om die kurrikula mee te evalueer. ’n Kollektiewe gevallestudie is as navorsingsontwerp gebruik. As dataversamelingsmetodologie is ’n gemengde metodesbenadering gevolg, waarin kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe metodologieë gebruik is. Kwalitatiewe data is deur’n analise van die programdokumente van die geselekteerde tersiêre instellings versamel, asook deur ’n semi-gestruktureerde vraelys aan die programkoördineerders. Kwantitatiewe data is verkry danksy ’n gestruktureerde vraelys wat deur studente in die onderskeie programme voltooi is. Die kwalitatiewe data is geanaliseer deur kwalitatiewe inhoudsanalise, terwyl die kwantitatiewe data geanaliseer is deur die statistiese pakket SPSS weergawe18. Die data is daarna aan die geselekteerde teorieëgetoets en daarvolgens geëvalueer. Die analise het getoon dat die drie programme sterk steun op Westerse epistemologieë. Die drie programme het stewige verhoudings met die mediabedryf, ’n verhouding wat soms ’n tweesnydende swaard kan wees. Die bevindinge toon ook dat die koördineerders van die programme nie onwillig oor die transformasie van kurrikula is nie, met dien verstande die proses neem Westerse epistemologieë in aanmerking. Die resultate het ook aangetoon dat transformasie onbeduidend of nie-bestaande was in terme van geslag en ras. Die drie programme bied ook geen onderrig in inheemse Afrika-tale aan nie. Die finale slotsom van die studie was dat JO&O in die geselekteerde programme nog nie die uitdagings van ’n transformerende post-1994 Suid-Afrika aanspreek nie. / University of Venda