Marist International University College, Nairobi – Kenya is challenged with problems like duplication of work due to lack of a central repository for knowledge, loss of knowledge through expertise leaving the institution without knowledge being captured and over reliance on a few known subject experts as others have not been identified. This research thus set out to address these problems. The aim of the study was to conduct a knowledge management assessment at the Marist International University College (MIUC) in order to identify and recommend a suitable strategy for the institution. The study employed a concurrent triangulation mixed methodology approach which encompassed a questionnaire and an interview schedule to collect data from 33 academic staff and 9 members of the MIUC management respectively. These two groups were purposively selected as the target population for the study as they play the key role in knowledge creation at MIUC. All 33 copies of the questionnaires that were distributed to the teaching staff were returned by respondents and all the 9 MIUC members of management were successfully interviewed. Data transformation analysis was applied during which qualitative data from open-ended questions and interviews were quantified using content analysis. Quantitative data in the questionnaires was descriptively analysed using SPSS. The study revealed a variety of informal knowledge management structures and resources at MIUC and the challenges of managing knowledge at Marist. The main challenge was that there was no uniformity and consistency in the management of knowledge. The study hence, formulated a KM strategy for MIUC that would help leverage its knowledge assets. / Information Science / MA (Information Science)

Introductory programming failure rate among students is high worldwide, including in South Africa. The failure rate remains a subject for investigation due to a high number of students who find learning to program difficult. This study evaluates factors that contribute to high failure rates in an introductory programming module at University of South Africa. The study evaluates curriculum, programming syllabus, and personal factors to evaluate reasons for high failure rates. Quantitative and qualitative research approaches are used to identify learning hindrances. The research results show that personal factors are the leading contributing factors, followed by the curriculum and then the programming syllabus. Personal factors relate to time, personal reasons, and commitments; curriculum involves tutorials; and programming syllabus factors are linked to programming concepts and application. The findings have implications for how teaching and learning in introductory programming can be improved. The study provides recommendations for improvement and future studies. Keywords: Learn to program; introductory programming; higher learning; personal / School of Computing / M. Tech (Information Technology)

Marist International University College, Nairobi – Kenya is challenged with problems like duplication of work due to lack of a central repository for knowledge, loss of knowledge through expertise leaving the institution without knowledge being captured and over reliance on a few known subject experts as others have not been identified. This research thus set out to address these problems. The aim of the study was to conduct a knowledge management assessment at the Marist International University College (MIUC) in order to identify and recommend a suitable strategy for the institution. The study employed a concurrent triangulation mixed methodology approach which encompassed a questionnaire and an interview schedule to collect data from 33 academic staff and 9 members of the MIUC management respectively. These two groups were purposively selected as the target population for the study as they play the key role in knowledge creation at MIUC. All 33 copies of the questionnaires that were distributed to the teaching staff were returned by respondents and all the 9 MIUC members of management were successfully interviewed. Data transformation analysis was applied during which qualitative data from open-ended questions and interviews were quantified using content analysis. Quantitative data in the questionnaires was descriptively analysed using SPSS. The study revealed a variety of informal knowledge management structures and resources at MIUC and the challenges of managing knowledge at Marist. The main challenge was that there was no uniformity and consistency in the management of knowledge. The study hence, formulated a KM strategy for MIUC that would help leverage its knowledge assets. / Information Science / MA (Information Science)

Kenya Methodist University (KeMU) is facing challenges like duplication of work due to lack of a central repository for knowledge retention, loss of knowledge through expertise leaving the institution without knowledge being captured and over reliance on a few known subject matter experts as others have not been identified. Utilising the Knowledge Retention Strategy framework, this study sought to assess knowledge retention practices at KeMU, with a view to entrench the culture of sharing knowledge. The ultimate aim of this study was to develop a model for knowledge retention at institutions of higher learning which KeMU could adopt. The study relied on mixed method research (MMR) with qualitative and quantitative data mixed at collection, analysis, discussion and reporting levels. The study triangulated data collection tools which encompassed a questionnaire, interview, observation and review of documents to collect data from 106 respondents and 11 heads of departments respectively. These two groups were purposively selected as they play a key role in knowledge retention at KeMU. The study disclosed a variety of informal knowledge retention practices but formal practices like: documented work processes; training and development for specific job tasks; orientation for general and job specific; knowledge repositories; communities of practice; knowledge retention policies; knowledge recovery initiatives; and human resources processes and practices for knowledge retention were lacking. Considering the value placed on the above list of lacking essential practices for knowledge retention, KeMU is indeed in dire need for a solution to help retain operational relevant knowledge. The study formulated a KR model for institutions of higher learning that would help KeMU leverage its knowledge assets. The study recommends that KeMU should work out a knowledge retention policy on how to implement the best knowledge retention practices. A further study on measuring KM in an academic institution is recommended. / Information Science / M. Inf.

SANTOS, José Deribaldo Gomes dos. Graduação tecnológica no Brasil: crítica à expansão de vagas no ensino superior não universitário. 2009. 263f. Tese (Doutorado em Educação) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Faculdade de Educação, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Brasileira, Fortaleza-CE, 2009. / Submitted by Maria Josineide Góis (josineide@ufc.br) on 2012-07-10T11:18:48Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2009_Tese_JDGSantos.pdf: 1327583 bytes, checksum: e18febdceb9dfb448707b5003d807070 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Josineide Góis(josineide@ufc.br) on 2012-07-13T11:37:50Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2009_Tese_JDGSantos.pdf: 1327583 bytes, checksum: e18febdceb9dfb448707b5003d807070 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-07-13T11:37:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2009_Tese_JDGSantos.pdf: 1327583 bytes, checksum: e18febdceb9dfb448707b5003d807070 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / This theoretical, bibliographic and documental research, based on Marxian onto methodology, is proposed to study, in a general way, the implementation of the Non University Graduate Schools (ESNU), which is named technological degree in Brazil. This kind of course means that the Brazilian Government fragments higher learning into University and Non-University to update neoliberal’s engrainedness. In order to reach that goal, this research specifically analyzes this Non University kind of courses expansion in Brazil; it inspects the evolution in offers, admissions, courses and institutions of this kind in Brazil; it studies which are the proposed pedagogical approaches that support this system; it also pursues an understanding about the strategic role of having a subsystem of higher learning (ES) in our country, facing the present scenery of contemporary capitalism crisis; it additionally verifies the bestowed importance of technological degree in face of the Brazilian necessity to extend people’s access to higher learning. This investigation tried to cover, in a summarized way, the history of some classical theories about education and, respecting its limits, point to some particularities related to professional formation, which, to guarantee privileges to the ones already privileged, distinguishes two alternative education paths: one named professional, to working classes, and other named academic, to the elite. Afterwards, this exposition brings to attention some theoretical questions about the context that surrounds the structural crisis of capitalism (MÉSZÁROS, 2000, 2003, 2005) and the soundness of Gramsci’s Unique School (1968, 2004). It follows showing the history of Brazilian government policies related to professional formation, since military government until nowadays, focusing on two established decrees: numbers 2208/97 and 5154/04; it debates the technology concept, supported by Vieira Pinto’s theory (2008a, 2008b); examines the relation of Government counter reforms and Brazilian universities; discusses in a critical way, supported by Florestan Fernandes (1973, 1975a, 1975b), the Brazilian industrial development theses. In order to rigorously surround the object, the communication visits part of the bibliography that is related to the Pedagogy of the competences; in this way, it understands that this educational paradigm is the base of this higher learning subsystem; after that, it studies the numbers involving ESNU expansion, comparing with international agencies interference, more specifically International Monetary Fund and The World Bank. In its final remarks, this research concludes that the Brazilian Government operates modern artifacts to deeper neoliberal state. The Brazilian technological degree would address the historical necessity of broader access to ES, but, widening the doors to the “house of knowledge“ by the non university way, in a government way and through the Education for All Program (ProUni), privileging entrepreneurs, government, in fact, hinders basic research development, which, in the end, makes more difficult the very development of the country. This investigation closes its arguments strongly registering that the outstanding growth of ESNU numbers should not be used as an indication of its effectiveness, because in a society with 10% of youngsters from 18 to 24 years attending to ES, the technological degree will surely seduce those historically hindered from using universities: the sons of the working class. / Esta pesquisa de caráter teórico, bibliográfico e documental, fundamentada na onto metodologia marxiana, propõe-se estudar, de forma geral, a implantação do Ensino Superior Não Universitário (ESNU), que no Brasil é chamado de graduação tecnológica, ou seja, como o Estado brasileiro utiliza a fragmentação do ensino superior em universitário e não universitário para atualizar o aprofundamento do neoliberalismo. Para atender esse objetivo, analisa especificamente o processo de expansão desses cursos no Brasil; averigua a evolução das ofertas de vagas, matrículas, cursos e instituições dessa modalidade de ensino; estuda quais são as propostas pedagógicas que embasam tal subsistema; procura, também, compreender qual o papel estratégico, para nosso país, de um subsistema de Ensino Superior (ES), no atual quadro de crise do capitalismo contemporâneo; e, ainda, verificar a importância concedida à graduação tecnológica dentro da histórica necessidade brasileira de alargar o acesso ao ensino superior. A investigação procurou percorrer, de forma breve, a história de algumas teorias clássicas da educação e na medida de suas possibilidades, apontar especificidades relativas à formação profissional que, para garantir o privilégio dos já privilegiados, distingue dois caminhos educativos: o profissional para a classe trabalhadora e o acadêmico para a elite. Posteriormente, a exposição levanta algumas questões teóricas sobre o contexto que envolve a crise estrutural do capital (MÉSZÁROS, 2000, 2003, 2005) e a atualidade da Escola Única de Gramsci (1968, 2004). Prosseguindo, historia as políticas públicas brasileiras para a formação profissional, recortando a partir do governo dos militares até a atualidade, destacando a implantação de dois decretos: n° 2208/97 e n° 5154/04; debate, com amparo teórico em Vieira Pinto (2008a, 2008b) o conceito de tecnologia; examina a relação das contra reformas do Estado e a da universidade brasileira; discute criticamente, com apoio em Florestan Fernandes (1973, 1975a, 1975b), as tese do desenvolvimento industrial brasileiro. Para cercar rigorosamente o objeto, a comunicação visita parte da bibliografia que discute a pedagogia das competências; assim, entende que este paradigma educativo está na base pedagógica desse subestima de ES; em seguida, estuda os números da expansão do ESNU cotejando esse exame com a interferência dos organismos internacionais, nomeadamente, o Fundo Monetário Internacional e o Banco Mundial. Apresenta, a pesquisa, em suas considerações finais, que o Estado brasileiro opera modernos artifícios de aprofundamento do neoliberalismo. A graduação tecnológica brasileira, assim, representaria a histórica necessidade de expansão de vagas ao ES, contudo, ao ofertar o alargamento das portas da “casa do saber” pela via não universitária, de forma estatal e pelo Programa Educação para Todos (ProUni), agraciando os empresários, o governo obstaculariza o desenvolvimento da pesquisa de base que acaba por dificultar na realidade o desenvolvimento do país. A investigação fecha suas argumentações, registrando energicamente que o espantoso aumento dos índices do ESNU não deve servir como balizador de sua eficácia, pois em uma sociedade com taxa de jovens entre 18 e 24 anos que ocupam o ES girando em torno de 10%, a graduação tecnológica certamente seduzirá para esse subsistema os historicamente anteparados de cursar a universidade: os filhos da classe trabalhadora.

The Ellison Executive Mentoring Inclusive Community Building (ICB) Model is a paradigm for initiating and implementing projects utilizing executives and professionals from a variety of fields and industries, university students, and pre-college students. The model emphasizes adherence to ethical values and promotes inclusiveness in community development. It is a hierarchical model in which actors in each succeeding level of operation serve as mentors to the next. Through a three-step process--content, process, and product--participants must be trained with this mentoring and apprenticeship paradigm in conflict resolution, and they receive sensitivitiy and diversity training, through an interactive and dramatic exposition. The content phase introduces participants to the model's philosophy, ethics, values and methods of operation. The process used to teach and reinforce its precepts is the mentoring and apprenticeship activities and projects in which the participants engage and whose end product demontrates their knowledge and understanding of the model's concepts. This study sought to ascertain from the participants' perspectives whether the model's mentoring approach is an effective means of fostering inclusiveness, based upon their own experiences in using it. The research utilized a qualitative approach and included data from field observations, individual and group interviews, and written accounts of participants' attitudes. Participants complete ICB projects utilizing the Ellison Model as a method of development and implementation. They generally perceive that the model is a viable tool for dealing with diversity issues whether at work, at school, or at home. The projects are also instructional in that whether participants are mentored or seve as apprentices, they gain useful skills and knowledge about their careers. Since the model is relatively new, there is ample room for research in a variety of areas including organizational studies to dertmine its effectiveness in combating problems related to various kinds of discrimination.

MCom / Department of Business Management / See the attached abstract below

For a variety of reasons, college students with disabilities encounter stressors beyond those of students who do not have disabilities. One of the more salient examples is that students with disabilities are required to disclose that they have a disability and to communicate with faculty and staff in order to receive academic accommodations, as afforded to them under sub-part E of Section 504 of the Education and Rehabilitation Act of 1974. Therefore, postsecondary institutions are required to make appropriate accommodations available to students with disabilities, but they are not required to proactively seek them out. The purpose of this study was to learn about the needs that students with physical disabilities have concerning their successful transition into professional careers. This was accomplished by analyzing how five current senior students with disabilities reflected on their experiences, particularly in terms of using work preparation programs and/or accommodations necessary for them to participate in employment recruitment activities provided by the university’s career services office. The intent of those services was to transition disabled students from the university environment into the workforce. The findings showed that the students perceived they did not receive a lot of information regarding the services available, and they also expressed that the university should have done more in transitioning them into their professional life. The basic premise is that higher education professionals, key support staff, and administrators who provide work preparation programs, career, transition and accommodation services to disabled students are in a position to help remove informational barriers, facilitate the use of services and accommodations, and to actively encourage students with disabilities to enter the workforce upon graduation. The results of this study may inspire university personnel to find creative ways to get students involved and motivated to seek services available to them, to be best self-advocates to students needing their services, and to understand the transition challenges that exist between academic life and entry into the workforce. By being more aware and sensitive about the needs of students with disabilities, the professionals who work with them might be better positioned to help them experience a successful and more supported transition into a competitive employment and independent life after college.

Abstract in English, Tswana and Afrikaans / People who graduated from higher education, whether they attended classes on campus or studied via a distance mode of learning, have not only been educated but are also able to participate in and contribute positively to the political, social and economic forums in their immediate environments and within their country. Progressing through the higher education system successfully is not easy since there are many challenges to overcome. Students With Disabilities (SWD) face even greater challenges in making their way through the system to emerge triumphantly as graduates. Institutions of higher learning, including Open Distance eLearning (ODeL) facilities, must provide support to SWD in order to facilitate their learning experience so that they are better equipped to succeed. Therefore, it is vital to promote access to higher education for people with disabilities and to provide support, such as making assistive technologies and human services available, for SWD within ODeL institutions. This qualitative study was exploratory in nature and used a multiple case study research design in the chosen area to investigate the provision of support for SWD in the ODeL institution. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews and a document analysis, and these two methods of data gathering assisted with triangulation. The research findings revealed differences between the findings that were obtained through the responses received from teacher and staff member participants. The research findings also revealed differences between the findings that were obtained through the responses received from the participants, in general, and those obtained through the document analysis. The findings obtained through responses received from teacher participants showed that support for SWD was more evident at the school level than at the ODeL institution, that is, at the tertiary level of education. The document analysis of the policies of the ODeL institution revealed that the policies were general and did not specifically relate to the needs of SWD. At the same time, the findings in this dissertation of limited scope showed that the use of technology and the availability of assistive devices were more prominent at the school level than at the ODeL institution. / Batho ba ba alogang go tswa mo ditheong tse kgolwane tsa Thuto, ba tswa ba ka bo ba rutilwe le go ithuta ka go tsenela dikamuso (attending lecturers) mo khemphaseng kgotsa ba rutilwe le go ithuta ka thutotlhaeletsano, ga ba rutega fela mme ba kgona gape le go nna le seabe le go abelana ka tshiamo mo diforamong tsa sepolotiki, tsa seloago le tsa seikonomi mo ditikologong tse ba iphitlhelang ba le mo go tsona naga ka bophara. Go tsweletsa dithuto mo setheong sa thuto e kgolwane ka katlego ga go bonolo ka gonne go na le dikgwetlho di le dintsi tse o tshwanelwang ke go di fenya. Baithuti ba ba tshelang-ka-bogole (Students with disabilities -SWD) ba lebagane le dikgwetlho tse dikgolo thata mo setheong sa thuto e kgolwane, go ka ipona kwa bofelelong e le dialogane tse di atlegileng. Ditheo tsa thuto e kgolwane, go akaretsa le tsa tlamelo ya thutotlhaeletsano ka mafarafatlha ntle le maparego (ODeL), di tshwanelwa ke go tshegetsa SWD mo dithutung tsa bone gore batle ba atlege. Ka jalo, go botlhokwa go rotlweetsa phitlhelelo ya thuto e kgolwane go batho ba ba tshelang ka bogole le go ba tshegetsa, jaaka go ka ba direla le go ba neela thekenoloji tsa thuso le ditirelo tsa thuso-ka-batho. Tshegetse fela jaaka e tshwanetse go SWD ba ba mo ODeL. Patlisiso e ya khwaletatifi, e tlhametswe go utulola mme ebile e dirisitse mefuta e le mentsi ya go batlisisa ka ga mokgwa wa go tshegetsa SWD mo ODeL. Tshedimosetso kgotsa dinewane di kokoantswe ka go dirisa seripa sa dipotsolotso le go sekaseka tokamana, mme mekgwa e mebedi e, e thusitse ka go netefatsa diphitlheleo tse di bonweng. Diphitlhelelo tsa patlisiso di bontshitse dipharologano magareng ga diphitlhelelo tse di bonweng go tswa go barutabana kwa sekolong le go tswa go badiri kwa ODeL. Diphitlhelelo tsa patlisiso, di tlhagisitse gape dipharologano magareng ga diphitlhelelo tse di bonweng go tswa go banna-le-seabe, ka kakaretso, le tse di bonweng go tswa mo go sekasekeng tokamana. Diphitlhelelo tse di bonweng go tswa go barutabana, di bontshitse gore tshegetso ya SWD e tlhomame kwa sekolong go na le kwa ODeL, e leng setheo sa thuto e e kgolwane. Tshekatsheko ya tokomana ya dipholisi tsa ODeL, e bontsitse fa dipholisi e le tsa kakaretso fela mme di sa tote ka tlhamalalo ditlhokego tsa SWD. Go ntse go le jalo, diphitlhelelo tsa tlhotlhomisi e e lekanyeditsweng mothamo, di bontshitse fa tiriso ya thekenoloji le go nna teng ga didiriswa-thuso, di tlhomame kwa sekolong go na le kwa ODeL. / Mense wat aan hoëronderwysinstellings gradueer, of hulle klasse op kampus bygewoon het of deur 'n afstandsmetode van leer studeer het, is nie slegs onderrig nie, maar hulle kan ook deelneem aan en positief bydra tot die politieke, sosiale en ekonomiese forums in hul onmiddellike omgewing en in hul land. Dit is nie maklik om suksesvol deur die hoëronderwysstelsel te vorder nie, omdat daar baie struikelblokke is om te oorkom. Studente met gestremdhede (SMG) het selfs meer uitdagings om hul weg deur die stelsel te baan en triomfantlik as graduandi te verrys. Hoëronderriginstellings, insluitende oop e-afstandsleer (ODeL) -fasiliteite, moet ondersteuning aan SMG bied om hul leerervarings te fasiliteer sodat hulle beter toegerus is om sukses te behaal. Dit is daarom noodsaaklik om toegang tot hoër onderwys en ondersteuning aan mense met gestremdhede te bied, soos om hulptegnologieë en menslike dienste aan SMG in ODeL-instellings beskikbaar te stel. Hierdie kwalitatiewe studie was verkennend van aard en het 'n veelvoudige gevallestudie-ontwerp in die gekose veld gebruik om die voorsiening van ondersteuning aan SMG in 'n ODeL-instelling te ondersoek. Data is versamel deur semigestruktureerde onderhoude en 'n dokumentonleding; hierdie twee metodes van dataversameling het met triangulasie gehelp. Navorsingsbevindings het verskille aangedui tussen die data wat verkry is van die onderwyser en die van deelnemende personeellede se reaksies. Navorsingsbevindings het ook verskille aangedui tussen die data wat verkry is van deelnemers se reaksies oor die algemeen en die wat deur dokumentontleding verkry is. Die bevindings wat deur die onderwyserdeelnemers verkry is, het aangedui dat ondersteuning aan SMG duideliker op skoolvlak was as by die ODeL-instelling; dit is op tersiêre vlak van onderwys. Die dokumentontleding van die ODeL-instelling se beleide het aangedui dat die beleide algemeen was nie spesifiek met SWD se behoeftes verband hou nie. Terselfdertyd het die bevindings van hierdie verhandeling van beperkte omvang getoon dat die gebruik van tegnologie en die beskikbaarheid van hulptoestelle meer prominent was op skoolvlak as by die ODeL-instelling. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Open Distance Learning)