Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This thesis investigated the leadership approach associated with sustained improved academic performance of principals heading National Strategy for Learner Attainment (NSLA) schools. The research problem addressed the leadership practices and personality traits that characterised the leadership approaches of principals heading high schools which have achieved long-term academic improvement amongst the schools undergoing the NSLA interventions. The main research question was: What leadership practices and personality traits characterised the leadership approaches of principals heading schools who have achieved long-term academic improvement amongst the schools undergoing the NSLA interventions? Thereafter, four subsidiary research questions guided this research.

The diploma thesis is focused on the analysis of national strategies in the area of eHealth. The main aim of this thesis is to analyse the foreign national eHealth strategies and subsequent draft concept for the Czech Republic based on achieved results. The first chapter contains theoretical introduction into the field of eHealth, the main sources of research, history and definition of eHealth. The second part is devoted to the analysis, comparison and critical assessment of national eHealth strategies based on criteria in the countries of Denmark, New Zealand and the Slovak Republic. Third and final chapter is focused on the assessment of the current state of eHealth in the Czech Republic and the draft concept of eHealth strategy in the Czech Republic, which is based on the conclusions reached in the second chapter. The main contribution of this work is the analysis of selected national strategies and draft concept for eHealth strategy in the Czech Republic.

Doctor Educationis / This thesis investigated the leadership approach associated with sustained improved academic performance of principals heading National Strategy for Learner Attainment (NSLA) schools. The research problem addressed the leadership practices and personality traits that characterised the leadership approaches of principals heading high schools which have achieved long-term academic improvement amongst the schools undergoing the NSLA interventions. The main research question was: What leadership practices and personality traits characterised the leadership approaches of principals heading schools who have achieved long-term academic improvement amongst the schools undergoing the NSLA interventions? Thereafter, four subsidiary research questions guided this research. Firstly, what were the leadership practices of principals in selected successful NSL schools? Secondly, what personality traits characterised these principals? Thirdly, what learning and teaching challenges did principals heading these schools face? Lastly, how did these principals address the learning and teaching challenges in these schools? The literature and past research supported and provided information that leadership at schools plays a pivotal role for teaching and learning to be successful. However, the literature does not prescribe a specific leadership approach, but recommended a contingency leadership approach. The contingency leadership approach was used as the theoretical framework for this study. This approach recognises that there is no single preferred style of leadership and that the situational context must be taken into account for leadership to be effective. The study was guided by the qualitative methodological paradigm which is embedded in the interpretivist approach in order to develop rich and in-depth descriptions and meaning, feelings and experiences gathered from respondents. The case study as a qualitative research design was used to collect, analyse and interpret data from principals, teachers and selected members of the School Management Team (SMT). The population comprised of fifteen high schools in the Metro Central Education District, Cape Town that underwent the NSLA intervention. However, the investigation took place at five schools in the Metro Central Education District and participants remained part of this initiative for more than three consecutive years. These schools are resident in a wide area on the Cape Flats. All principals at the time, were permanently appointed. Two research instruments were used. A questionnaire to collect data about the leadership of principals was completed by post level one teachers. This questionnaire covered three areas, the biometric information of the respondent, the leadership behaviour of the principal and the leadership approach promoting teaching and learning. A semi-structured interview was done with the principal and selected members of the Schools Management Team (SMT). Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the questionnaire. To analyse the semi-structured interviews, categories and themes were used to maximise the information collected. Through qualitative research the researcher was able to develop rich and in-depth descriptions of meaning, feelings and experiences through analysis. The study concluded that to achieve long-term academic improvement amongst NSLA schools an integrated leadership approach for principals is recommended. This approach encapsulates the various leadership approaches and the leadership personality traits or characteristics of the principals as well as taking into account the situational context for effective leadership and decision-making. Limitations in respect of this research were enumerated. Finally, recommendations based on the conclusions were highlighted including recommendations for further investigation.

Rugby union is being viewed and played by millions of people across the world. It is one of the fastest growing sport codes internationally and with more countries emerging and playing international and national games, the supporter attendance is crucial to the game. The rugby industry is mostly formal, with an international body controlling the sport globally and a governing body in each country to regulate the sport in terms of rules and regulations. These bodies must adhere to the international body’s vision and mission to grow the sport and to steer it in the correct direction. This study focuses on rugby game attendance of selected smaller unions in South Africa. Valuable information was gathered describing the socioeconomic profile and various preferences and habits of supporters attending rugby games. This information forms the basis for future studies to honour the people that support their unions when playing rugby nationally or internationally. The research was conducted through interviews with influential administrators within the rugby environment and questionnaires that were distributed among supporters that attended a Leopard and Puma game. The main conclusions during the study were the failure to attract supporters to the Leopards and the Pumas local matches. The supporters list various reasons for poor supporter attendances namely: • a lack of marketing, • no entertainment, • the quality of the teams that are competing, and • the time-slots in which the matches take place. A general and mutual concern among stakeholders for the future is the sustainability of supporters attending games of the smaller unions. The apparent lack of funding from the South African Rugby Union and supporters disinterest in their local union were singled out as serious shortcomings in protecting the interests of the stakeholders. All stakeholders need to engage on a national level strategy for developing structures and communication to promote and grow the potential of rugby not only in the cities, but in the entire South Africa. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Rugby union is being viewed and played by millions of people across the world. It is one of the fastest growing sport codes internationally and with more countries emerging and playing international and national games, the supporter attendance is crucial to the game. The rugby industry is mostly formal, with an international body controlling the sport globally and a governing body in each country to regulate the sport in terms of rules and regulations. These bodies must adhere to the international body’s vision and mission to grow the sport and to steer it in the correct direction. This study focuses on rugby game attendance of selected smaller unions in South Africa. Valuable information was gathered describing the socioeconomic profile and various preferences and habits of supporters attending rugby games. This information forms the basis for future studies to honour the people that support their unions when playing rugby nationally or internationally. The research was conducted through interviews with influential administrators within the rugby environment and questionnaires that were distributed among supporters that attended a Leopard and Puma game. The main conclusions during the study were the failure to attract supporters to the Leopards and the Pumas local matches. The supporters list various reasons for poor supporter attendances namely: • a lack of marketing, • no entertainment, • the quality of the teams that are competing, and • the time-slots in which the matches take place. A general and mutual concern among stakeholders for the future is the sustainability of supporters attending games of the smaller unions. The apparent lack of funding from the South African Rugby Union and supporters disinterest in their local union were singled out as serious shortcomings in protecting the interests of the stakeholders. All stakeholders need to engage on a national level strategy for developing structures and communication to promote and grow the potential of rugby not only in the cities, but in the entire South Africa. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Angling as a sport and recreational activity attracts millions of participants worldwide, making it the most popular pastime on the planet. Freshwater bank anglers in South Africa account for approximately 60% of the angling community and contribute billions to the economy. The freshwater bank angling industry as such is largely informal, with the exception of the small organised angling section. The technical aspects of angling receive an abundance of covering in magazines and increases in popularity through the electronic media. This study focuses on lesser known aspects regarding the angling industry stakeholders and put the activities of South African freshwater bank anglers in perspective. Valuable information was gathered describing the socio-economic profile and various preferences and habits of anglers. The information should form the basis of future studies to formalise the freshwater bank angling industry. A general and mutual concern among stakeholders for the future sustainability of freshwater angling was identified. The apparent lack of enforcing angling and environmental legislation was singled out as a serious shortcoming in protecting the interests of stakeholders. The study calls for organised angling to engage all stakeholders in a national strategy for developing the structures and creating the momentum to promote and grow this undervalued industry to its potential. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Angling as a sport and recreational activity attracts millions of participants worldwide, making it the most popular pastime on the planet. Freshwater bank anglers in South Africa account for approximately 60% of the angling community and contribute billions to the economy. The freshwater bank angling industry as such is largely informal, with the exception of the small organised angling section. The technical aspects of angling receive an abundance of covering in magazines and increases in popularity through the electronic media. This study focuses on lesser known aspects regarding the angling industry stakeholders and put the activities of South African freshwater bank anglers in perspective. Valuable information was gathered describing the socio-economic profile and various preferences and habits of anglers. The information should form the basis of future studies to formalise the freshwater bank angling industry. A general and mutual concern among stakeholders for the future sustainability of freshwater angling was identified. The apparent lack of enforcing angling and environmental legislation was singled out as a serious shortcoming in protecting the interests of stakeholders. The study calls for organised angling to engage all stakeholders in a national strategy for developing the structures and creating the momentum to promote and grow this undervalued industry to its potential. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

冷戰結束之後，亞太地區的情勢因蘇聯內部共黨勢力的瓦解，而美國也因內部經濟問題無法負擔龐大的軍事費用而逐漸退出亞太，造成亞太地區的權力真空。這段期間內，中共已從1979年後的改革開放中取得綜合國力的提升，使中共得以在亞太地區竄起，逐漸發展成為區域強權，到現在被視為是美國潛在對手的世界強權。 中共之所以能取得今天的地位，主要靠的就是經濟的持續成長，然成長的動力乃來自於對能源之需求。目前中共為僅次於美國的全球第二大石油消費國，不過，這背後卻是高度依賴進口石油，其中80 %是經印度洋、麻六甲海峽及南海運抵大陸。從安全及經濟戰略的角度切入，中共沒有不掌握南海控制權的理由。這也道出後冷戰時期國家戰略的轉變，逐漸從陸地轉為重視海上的主權與安全，由此，中共在南海戰略布局，建立海軍基地，正是為了維護在南海的利益。 　　然而這樣的利益卻因為南海議題至終仍僵持不下，影響中共在南海戰略的目標與規畫，例如1982年的海洋公約法各自宣布經濟海域之範圍，使得各國主權的行使上具有相互重疊的部分，加上南海區域所蘊含著可觀的石油資源和航線價值，導致各個當事國皆不願放棄其主權的擁有。更不用說是境外勢力的介入，都使得南海問題變得更加複雜，進而改變中共在南海的戰略。 　　由此，本文將從這個錯綜複雜的問題中，先探討南海爭議的源頭與脈絡，有助於了解中共制定南海政策的背景。其次再從政治、經濟以及軍事方面來分析中共在南海的意圖和戰略，包括了在海南設立海軍基地、加速發展潛艦和航母等，研究中共海軍建軍的進程與南海戰略之關係。最後，再評估中共的南海戰略對區域安全所造成的衝擊，以及如何影響周邊國家和區外國家的行為。 / After the Cold War, there is no strong power in the Asia Pacific region as a result of the collapse of the communist Soviet Union while the United States (U.S.) had the economic problem which also made it to withdraw forces from that region. During this timeframe, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has improved its overall national power by reforms and transformations since 1979 which gave it opportunity to raise and become regional superpower and is being recognized as a potential global superpower and adversary to the U.S. 　　PRC gained today’s position mainly through its continued economic growth and its growing momentum is constructed upon the energy requirement. Currently, PRC is the second largest oil consumer besides the U.S. and is heavily dependent upon the imports in which 80 percent come from the Indian Ocean, Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea. From the security and economics point of view, there is no reason PRC should give up the control of the South China Sea which explains its national strategy has shifted from continent thinking to focusing on the maritime sovereignty and security. Thus, PRC’s strategy in South China Sea and the construction of naval bases are to protect its interest in that area. 　　However, the territorial disputes of the South China Sea have influenced PRC’s strategic goal and planning. For instance, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982 has the clause to announce economic zone which would overlap with neighboring countries. Furthermore, the potential undiscovered oil underneath the South China Sea and the critical sea lanes made relevant nations unwilling to give up their claims, not to say the involvement of foreign powers. All these have made the South China Sea a complicated issue which also affected PRC to change its South China Sea strategy. 　　Thereby, this paper will examine the origin of this complicated South China Sea issue which will help readers to understand the background of the forming of PRC’s South China Sea policy. Next, we will analyze PRC’s intent and strategy from political, economical and military aspects, including its set up of naval bases in that area and the speedup of the development of aircraft carrier and submarine, and also the relationship between PLA Navy’s buildup and the South China Sea. Finally, we will analyze the security impact to that area by PRC’s South China Sea strategy and how it affects peripheral nations’ behavior and nations outside that area.

Orientador: Sonia Maria Pessoa Pereira Bergamasco / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Agricola / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-08T06:50:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pinto_AbelardoGoncalves_D.pdf: 909102 bytes, checksum: 8d5c4dbcbc4b18762ee41972cceeda22 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004 / Resumo: Esse trabalho teve como objetivo estudar as estratégias de desenvolvimento rural no Brasil e em São Paulo, e sua relação com as transformações em que Estado e Sociedade civil estão imersos. Através da análise das transformações recentes do Estado brasileiro, foi possível verificar que sua reforma e suas estratégias de ação estão sendo pautadas pelos condicionamentos que a crise fiscal está impondo. Isto reflete diretamente na implementação das estratégias de desenvolvimento rural, limitando programas de reforma agrária, de combate à pobreza e de reestruturação dos serviços de pesquisa e extensão rural. A análise das transformações na sociedade civil mostrou que esta tem um papel estratégico para romper a hegemonia Estado/mercado na condução do processo de desenvolvimento rural. A revitalização da sociedade civil pode ser vista na crescente constituição de novos espaços democráticos para o debate de estratégias de desenvolvimento rural e no enriquecimento da agenda de desenvolvimento trazido pela participação das organizações da sociedade civil. A análise das estratégias que moldaram o Brasil Rural revelou a hegemonia do Estado na formulação e implementação de estratégias de desenvolvimento e mostrou também que os segmentos mais capitalizados do campo foram os maiores beneficiários da ação governamental. O protagonismo dos segmentos excluídos se deu pela condução das lutas sociais, que promoveram uma lenta, porém contínua expansão dos direitos sociais no campo. Os desafios estratégicos colocados para um desenvolvimento rural sustentável são: i) erradicar a pobreza no campo; ii) promover a equidade econômica; iii) promover a sustentabilidade ambiental; iv) realizar a reforma do Estado. As estratégias em curso no Estado de São Paulo são insuficientes para atender a estes desafios, evidenciando a necessidade de reestruturação não somente das estratégias, mas também das organizações que as implementam / Abstract: This work is aimed to study the strategies of development in Brazil and in São Paulo and its relation with the transformation process that civil Society and the State are in. Through the analysis of the recent transformations of the Brazilian State, it was possible to verify that its reform and its strategies of action are being ruled by the conditions that the fiscal crisis imposed. It reflects directly over the implementation of the rural development strategies, limiting programs of agricultural reform, fighting against poverty and restructure of the services of research and rural extension. The transformations in the civil society have shown that it has a strategical part to break on through to the hegemony State/market at the leading of the rural development process. The civil society revitalization can be seen in the growing democratic areas to the rural development strategies debate and in the enrichment of the development schedule brought by the participation of the civil society organizations. The analysis of the strategies that molded the Rural Brazil have shown this hegemony of the State in the formulation and implementation of development strategies and have shown as well that the most capitalist segment of the field were the most beneficiary form the governmental action. The protagonism of the excluded segments happened due to the social fights, that promoted a slowly, but continuous expansion of the social rights in the field. The strategical challenges placed for a sustainable rural development are: i) to eradicate the poverty in the field; ii) improve the rural families¿ life condition; iii) To accelerate the rural spaces; iv) To redirect the state action. The ongoing strategies in the state of São Paulo are insufficient to answer this challenges, highlighting the need of restructuring not only of the strategies, but also of the organizations that implements it / Doutorado / Planejamento e Desenvolvimento Rural Sustentável / Mestre em Engenharia Agrícola

The diploma thesis focuses on financial literacy analysis amongst high school students. Introductory chapters are based on definitions of key words essential to examine this topic, on the question of financial literacy significance and consumer protection (and its connection to financial literacy). Another part of the thesis investigates the process of financial education implementation to framework educational programs which represent obligatory foundation for elementary and high schools when creating the curricula. Crucial part of the thesis is financial literacy level examination performed at high schools and comparison of this level among participating schools.