The economic growth in the tourism industry is changing the structure of labour markets, increasing the level of competitiveness and thereby creating a need for improved labour productivity and a more flexible workforce. Education and the creation of employment are among the key priorities of the South African government. This process can be successful only if companies raise performance and productivity standards through the enhancement and development of skills. To succeed in the rebuilding process, it is imperative that the various stakeholders interact to establish the composition of the relevant skills and qualifications required. Consequently, the growth of job opportunities in the tourism sector has uncovered various challenges, including gaps in the areas of education, training and development. These gaps have resulted in low levels of productivity and are currently creating unsatisfied expectations for students and job providers. Hence, it is a priority of government to develop quality Learnerships and Internships in South Africa to improve skills and the qualifications of the tourism workforce. Employers are increasingly conscious of the value for money from their investments in training and are demanding that training be more deliberately aligned with the strategic needs of their organisations. However, the tourism industry is still complaining that learners are not adequately prepared for the workplace and the learners believe that they have sufficient knowledge to meet the needs of the industry. The purpose of this research was to analyse the skills expectations of learners versus employers: the case of the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport SETA (CATHSSETA). To achieve this aim, the following objectives were set: to analyse literature concerning human resource management with the main focus falling on training, to contextualise the current tourism education environment in South Africa, to compare the differences in skills expectations between learners and employers in the tourism industry and, lastly, to draw conclusions and make recommendations regarding the skills expectations in tourism education. This was achieved by conducting quantitative research by means of a structured questionnaire that was distributed to 202 employers and 1023 learners on the CATHSSETA database. The questionnaires were linked and captured on an online program named SurveyMonkey. The application of SPSS, descriptive statistics, Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, ANOVA and t-tests resulted in indicating various significant differences between skills expected by employers and skills presented by learners. These statistical analysis methods were used to demonstrate the gaps between the skills expectation of the role players. It was surprising to find that significant differences existed for most skills with the biggest gaps on self-reliance and people skills. The employers’ survey reflected that a priority for employers is customer orientation and learners’ willingness to learn. In all instances, employers expected learners to be better skilled than was the actual case. The results suggest that the learners are unable to adhere to the current demands of the industry. It was also found that learners rated their own skills much higher than the perception of employers. The results of this study can be used to assist CATHSSETA in improving their current training programmes to ensure they meet the needs of the broader tourism industry. It can also be used as a guideline for any training institution for improving the current tourism training programmes. This will contribute to the overall quality and sustainability of the tourism industry. / Thesis (MCom (Tourism Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The economic growth in the tourism industry is changing the structure of labour markets, increasing the level of competitiveness and thereby creating a need for improved labour productivity and a more flexible workforce. Education and the creation of employment are among the key priorities of the South African government. This process can be successful only if companies raise performance and productivity standards through the enhancement and development of skills. To succeed in the rebuilding process, it is imperative that the various stakeholders interact to establish the composition of the relevant skills and qualifications required. Consequently, the growth of job opportunities in the tourism sector has uncovered various challenges, including gaps in the areas of education, training and development. These gaps have resulted in low levels of productivity and are currently creating unsatisfied expectations for students and job providers. Hence, it is a priority of government to develop quality Learnerships and Internships in South Africa to improve skills and the qualifications of the tourism workforce. Employers are increasingly conscious of the value for money from their investments in training and are demanding that training be more deliberately aligned with the strategic needs of their organisations. However, the tourism industry is still complaining that learners are not adequately prepared for the workplace and the learners believe that they have sufficient knowledge to meet the needs of the industry. The purpose of this research was to analyse the skills expectations of learners versus employers: the case of the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport SETA (CATHSSETA). To achieve this aim, the following objectives were set: to analyse literature concerning human resource management with the main focus falling on training, to contextualise the current tourism education environment in South Africa, to compare the differences in skills expectations between learners and employers in the tourism industry and, lastly, to draw conclusions and make recommendations regarding the skills expectations in tourism education. This was achieved by conducting quantitative research by means of a structured questionnaire that was distributed to 202 employers and 1023 learners on the CATHSSETA database. The questionnaires were linked and captured on an online program named SurveyMonkey. The application of SPSS, descriptive statistics, Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, ANOVA and t-tests resulted in indicating various significant differences between skills expected by employers and skills presented by learners. These statistical analysis methods were used to demonstrate the gaps between the skills expectation of the role players. It was surprising to find that significant differences existed for most skills with the biggest gaps on self-reliance and people skills. The employers’ survey reflected that a priority for employers is customer orientation and learners’ willingness to learn. In all instances, employers expected learners to be better skilled than was the actual case. The results suggest that the learners are unable to adhere to the current demands of the industry. It was also found that learners rated their own skills much higher than the perception of employers. The results of this study can be used to assist CATHSSETA in improving their current training programmes to ensure they meet the needs of the broader tourism industry. It can also be used as a guideline for any training institution for improving the current tourism training programmes. This will contribute to the overall quality and sustainability of the tourism industry. / Thesis (MCom (Tourism Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The aim of this study was to explore, from a group dynamics perspective, the adult learners' experiences in a learnership program structured to include employed and unemployed learners. A secondary aim was to develop guidelines for practitioners regarding the implementation of learnerships that are structured to include employed and unemployed learners, taking into account the group dynamics at play. The case study played out within a pharmaceutical distribution company within South Africa. A qualitative, constructivist grounded theory method was used to analyse the data that were collected by means of questionnaires and focus groups. The data collected were transcribed and uploaded into Atlas.ti, which is a visual qualitative data analysis and theorybuilding software program that contributes to the management of qualitative data. It was used to complete a rigorous inductive-abductive analysis. The final code list contained 277 codes linked to 29 code families which in turn were linked to 8 super families. These super families were described and the experiences of the learners were then interpreted by means of a number of group dynamics theories and adult learning theories that were discussed in the preceding literature chapters. In the case study the exploration of the learners' experience indicated that certain group dynamics were not taken into consideration and this led to an emotionally burdened experience. If one considers the adult learning theory, these experiences could influence the learning effectiveness. The implementation of a learnership program taking the group dynamics into consideration prior to implementation thereof, could contribute towards a more successful learnership. Guidelines were given based on the conclusions of the research for example: <ul> <li> Ensure that all the relevant parties including management, supervisors, employed learners, unemployed learners, employed staff, SETA etc. strive towards the same goal right from the start.</li> <li> Integrate the employed and unemployed learners' rights from the start so that the unemployed learners are accepted as part of the system.</li> <li> Make it very clear to the employed staff that the unemployed learners are not a threat to their employment within the company as the unemployed learners have not been given a commitment that they will be employed after the learnership.</li> <li> Make sure that the training facilitators are well trained and equipped to deal with the group dynamics that can develop in the classroom environment so that they can contribute to the containment of emotions and to alert the company of the events.</li> <li> Ensure that change agents are available to monitor and manage these group dynamics.</li> <li> Explain the differences and similarities that might exist between the groups and assist the groups to realise their mutually dependent relationship.</li> </ul> The guidelines obtained from this study can be used to stimulate the thinking process when planning and managing the implementation of a learnership program in order to be aware of consequential implications that group dynamics can have on the successful implementation of such a learning program. The conclusions and guidelines will be useful to human resources practitioners, training providers and line managers that are planning to implement similar learnership programs. AFRIKAANS: Die doel van die studie was om volwasse leerders betrokke by ‘n leerlingskapprogram wat gestruktureer is om bestaande werkers en werklose leerders in te sluit, se ervaring vanuit ‘n groepdinamika perspektief te ondersoek. ‘n Sekondêre doelwit was om riglyne te ontwikkel vir mense in die praktyk met betrekking tot die implementering van ‘n leerlingskapprogram vir volwasse leerders bestaande uit werklose leerders en leerders in diens van ‘n bepaalde maatskappy, met in agneming van die groepdinamika daarby betrokke. Die gevallestudie het plaasgevind binne ‘n farmaseutiese verspreidingsmaatskappy in Suid-Afrika. ‘n Kwalitatiewe, konstruktiwistiese metode is gebruik om die data te analiseer wat deur vraelyste en fokusgroepe versamel is. Die data is getranskribeer en ingelees in Atlas.ti, wat ‘n visuele kwalitatiewe data-analise en teoretiese gebaseerde sagtewareprogram is wat bydra tot die bestuur van kwalitatiewe data. Hierdie program is gebruik om ‘n indringende gebaseerde teorieanalise te doen. Die finale kodelys bestaan uit 277 kodes gekoppel aan 29 kode families wat weer op hul beurt gekoppel is aan 8 hooffamilies. Hierdie hooffamilies is beskryf en die navorsingsgebeure van die studie is by wyse van groepdinamikateorieë en volwasseleerteorieë (wat in die vorige literatuur hoofstukke van die studie bespreek is) geïnterpreteer. In hierdie gevallestudie het die interpretasie van die ervarings van die leerders wat ondersoek is, daarop gewys dat sekere groepdinamika nie oorweeg is nie en dat dit gelei het tot ‘n emosionele stresvolle ervaring. Volwasseleerteorie dui aan dat hierdie ervarings die leereffektiwiteit kon beïnvloed het. Die implementering van ‘n leerlingskap program waar die groepdinamika in ag geneem word voor die implementering kan bydra tot die sukses van soortgelyke leerlingskapprogramme. Die riglyne wat deur hierdie studie verkry is, kan gebruik word om die denkproses te stimuleer tydens die beplanning en die bestuur van die implementering van soortgelyke leerlingskapprogramme. Dit sal veroorsaak dat die betrokke persone bewus is van die invloed van groepdinamika kan hê met betrekking tot die suksesvolle implementering van ‘n leerlingskap program. Die navorsingsinligting wat ingewin is, sal bruikbaar wees vir menslike hulpbronne praktisyne, opleidingsvoorsieners en lynbestuurders wat beplan om ‘n soortgelyke leerlingskapprogram te implementeer. Copyright 2010, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Ward, ME 2010, A group dynamics perspective of the experiences of adult learners taking part in a learnership program, MCom dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-02152012-114353 / > C12/4/124/gm / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Human Resource Management / unrestricted

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie navorsing getiteld 'n Ontwikkelingsperspektief van vakleerlingskappe in Suid-Afrika: implikasies vir die onderwysstelsel ondersoek die wortels van die vakleerlingskap stelsel sedert antieke tye, deur die koloniale tydperk in Suid-Afrika, die "armblankevraagstuk"1922-1960, voor-demokrasie 1950-1980, 1980-1993 en post-demokrasie 1994-2014. Die studie konsentreer op die kronologiese verloop van gebeure wat gelei het tot die formalisering van die vakleerlingskapstelsel in Suid-Afrika in 1922 asook die evolusie tot in sy huidige vorm. Spesifieke aandag is geskenk aan wetgewing, beide provinsiaal en nasionaal, wat bygedra het tot die vorming van die stelsels. Die vakleerlingskapstelsel van Amerika is ook ondersoek vanaf sy wortels tot die huidige era met al sy vorme van tegniese beroepsonderwys asook vakleerlingopleiding. Daar is gekyk na al die verskillende Amerikaanse kolleges en tegniese skoolstelsel. ‘n Vergelykende studie tussen Amerika en Suid-Afrika se vakleerlingskapstelsel is gemaak met spesifieke aanbevelings vir die Suid-Afrikaanse stelsel. / This research, entitled A developmental perspective of apprenticeships in South Africa: Implications for the education system, examined the origins of the apprenticeship system from its roots in pre-history, through colonial time in South Africa, the "armblanke-vraagstuk" 1922-1960, pre-democracy 1950-1980, 1980-1993 and postdemocracy 1994-2014. This study concentrated on chronicling the events leading to the establishment of formalized apprenticeship training in South Africa in 1922 and its evolution to its present form. Particular attention was paid to the legislation, both provincial and national, that provided for the establishment of the present system. The apprenticeship system of the USA was also examined from its roots up to the present time in all its forms of technical, vocational and artisan training. Looking at the different college systems and technical training schools of the USA. Comparisons between USA and South Africa‘s apprenticeship systems was made with specific recommendations for South Africa‘s system. / Educational Foundations / M. Ed. (Vergelykende Opvoedkunde)

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie navorsing getiteld 'n Ontwikkelingsperspektief van vakleerlingskappe in Suid-Afrika: implikasies vir die onderwysstelsel ondersoek die wortels van die vakleerlingskap stelsel sedert antieke tye, deur die koloniale tydperk in Suid-Afrika, die "armblankevraagstuk"1922-1960, voor-demokrasie 1950-1980, 1980-1993 en post-demokrasie 1994-2014. Die studie konsentreer op die kronologiese verloop van gebeure wat gelei het tot die formalisering van die vakleerlingskapstelsel in Suid-Afrika in 1922 asook die evolusie tot in sy huidige vorm. Spesifieke aandag is geskenk aan wetgewing, beide provinsiaal en nasionaal, wat bygedra het tot die vorming van die stelsels. Die vakleerlingskapstelsel van Amerika is ook ondersoek vanaf sy wortels tot die huidige era met al sy vorme van tegniese beroepsonderwys asook vakleerlingopleiding. Daar is gekyk na al die verskillende Amerikaanse kolleges en tegniese skoolstelsel. ‘n Vergelykende studie tussen Amerika en Suid-Afrika se vakleerlingskapstelsel is gemaak met spesifieke aanbevelings vir die Suid-Afrikaanse stelsel. / This research, entitled A developmental perspective of apprenticeships in South Africa: Implications for the education system, examined the origins of the apprenticeship system from its roots in pre-history, through colonial time in South Africa, the "armblanke-vraagstuk" 1922-1960, pre-democracy 1950-1980, 1980-1993 and postdemocracy 1994-2014. This study concentrated on chronicling the events leading to the establishment of formalized apprenticeship training in South Africa in 1922 and its evolution to its present form. Particular attention was paid to the legislation, both provincial and national, that provided for the establishment of the present system. The apprenticeship system of the USA was also examined from its roots up to the present time in all its forms of technical, vocational and artisan training. Looking at the different college systems and technical training schools of the USA. Comparisons between USA and South Africa‘s apprenticeship systems was made with specific recommendations for South Africa‘s system. / Educational Foundations / M. Ed. (Vergelykende Opvoedkunde)