MA, School of Human and Community Development, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, 2003

This doctoral thesis features two kinds of skill-training programmes implemented in Tamil Nadu (India) drawing on 18 months of fieldwork. The first explores how Nokia recruits and trains semi-skilled youth to work as Operators, in the Nokia SEZ, in Sriperumbudur. I contrast this with the case of Project SEAM: a state-funded skill-training programme, implemented by a private firm through a public-private partnership (PPP). SEAM trains rural, below-poverty-line youth, to work as sewing machine operators in India’s burgeoning garment clusters. I argue that contemporary India’s development trajectory is characterised by the confluence between an increasingly pluralised network state and rapidly proliferating network enterprises, which work together to establish new workplaces and design and implement skill-training programmes for India’s rural poor. Skill-training is used as a lens to examine the complex, symbiotic relationship between these two actors, who drive these new initiatives. Skill development programmes are predicated on the idea that aspiration is a positive, transformative force – a view that is echoed by social scientists like Appadurai (2004; 2013). I demonstrate how the network state and network enterprise, shape and mould youth aspirations, across the skill-training cycle: transforming (within mere weeks) unemployed, unskilled rural youth – into semi skilled workers, ready to work in the manufacturing sector. Youth aspirations are consciously heightened as a marketing strategy, to maximize enrollments into skill-training programmes. Aspiration is also actively taught as a valuable soft-skill, that young people must possess, to become a part of India’s new workplaces. Through an exploration of how young people encounter such initiatives, I question the idea that aspirations are positively transformational. I highlight the tension in youth experience - between aspirations elevated by the training program, and factory work’s harder realities - to illustrate the dark side of aspiration: characterized by disillusionment, disappointment and personal failure.

No description available.

The primary focus of chemistry graduate programs in R1 universities in the United States (US) is training students to become research scientists. However, additional skills, such as effective presentations, writing practical proposals, teaching, mentoring, and networking, are essential for successful careers. This study evaluates the emphasis on professional development skills in R1 chemistry graduate programs in the US, as perceived by graduate students and professors, and their perceived adequacy in preparing graduate students for academic careers. A questionnaire survey of current graduate students and faculty members was conducted. Results indicated that current graduate students perceived a lack of development opportunities relative to their future careers. In contrast, current faculty members indicated some deficiencies. However, they agreed that opportunities within graduate programs were generally adequate for skill development. The findings highlight the differences between students and faculty regarding the perceived lack of development opportunities for graduate students in chemistry program.

O objetivo desta dissertação foi o de analisar a Proposta de Formação Continuada do Professor em parceria com a equipe interdisciplinar, desenvolvida pela Secretaria de Educação de São Bernardo do Campo no período de 1996-2003. Identificar com professores da rede municipal de ensino desse Município que atuam na Educação Especial e que vivenciaram esse processo: como repercutiu em suas práticas e se modificou a visão que possuíam sobre a deficiência; se conferiu-lhes instrumentos que os auxiliassem a enfrentar as situações do dia-a-dia, no atendimento à diversidade e na compreensão das situações dela decorrentes; se contribuiu para refletir sobre o seu papel profissional na mediação de um projeto pedagógico mais flexível e transformador; se levou a mudanças no âmbito do ser professor, do saber e do fazer pedagógico. Este trabalho está fundamentado nos estudos da psicologia histórico-cultural de Vygotsky e seus seguidores, nas concepções que embasam a formação do professor e nas contribuições dos pressupostos sobre a Interdisciplinaridade. A metodologia adotada foi o da modalidade qualitativa, imprescindível à análise das percepções e significados atribuídos pelos participantes a esse modelo formativo, expressos em entrevistas e com uso de questionários. A análise dos dados das entrevistas foi realizada em três etapas: 1) categorização das respostas das entrevistadas; 2) categorização definida sob o prisma das teorias que fundamentaram a investigação; 3) reflexões sobre as categorizações, estabelecendo uma convergência dos dados analisados na perspectiva dos dois grupos de categorias. Evidenciaram-se: a importância do processo formativo, valorizando o papel do professor e propiciando crescimento profissional; a contribuição da atividade partilhada e dos vários campos teóricos para apropriação de conhecimentos sobre a criança e suas condições de aprendizagem, fortalecendo o professor para a tomada de decisões mais refletidas e autônomas; as dificuldades relativas à formação dos profissionais da equipe que coordenavam o processo; a pouca clareza na definição dos papéis dos diferentes profissionais; o pouco envolvimento de alguns e excesso de demanda de outros; as dificuldades estruturais e de organização das unidades, deflagrando ausência de sintonia entre Secretaria de Educação e Escola. A análise mostrou que a proposta auxiliou os educadores entrevistados a reconhecerem a importância de um projeto pedagógico elaborado em bases teóricas que ampliem a condição de o professor intervir na aprendizagem de seus alunos com mais clareza e decisão. Por outro lado, assinalou a importância de realizar modelos de formação que ofereçam ao professor um referencial de trabalho mais voltado à análise, reflexão e reconstrução da prática. / This dissertation has as an objective the analysis of the Continuous Development Project, in partnership with an interdisciplinary group, developed by the São Bernardo Educational Department between the years of 1996-2003; to identify along with teachers who work with special education in that city and which have had such experience: how it reflected on their teaching and if it modified their point-of-view on the impairments; if it gave them tools to help with everyday occurrences such as the observation of the diversities and the comprehension of situations occurring due to them; if it helped them to ponder about their roles in the conciliation of more flexible and changing academic tasks; if it led to a transformation on their abilities of being teachers, having knowledge and academic skills. It has been based on Vygotsky (and disciples) historical-cultural psychology studies, regarding the concepts that support the development of the teacher and their contributions to interdisciplinary group formation. The implemented methodology considered quality, essential to the examination of the perceptions and meanings the participants assigned to this development standard, through interviews and surveys. The interviews analysis was carried on in three steps: 1st was the classification of the answers; the classification 2, defined under the hood of the theories that sustained the study; pondering on the classifications leading to a convergence of verified data on the points-of-view of both classified groups. The significance of the developing process valuing the role of the teacher and providing with professional growth became evident; the contribution of the shared activities and academic fields for the gathering of knowledge of kids and for the learning processes, stimulating the teacher on more pondered and independent decision making; the difficulties related to the development of the professionals on the group that coordinated the project; the lack of understanding on the definition of roles of the distinct professionals; the lack of commitment of some professionals and the excessive demand of others; the structural and organizational obstacles of the facilities showing the deficient synchronization between the School Board and the School itself. The analysis has shown that the project helped the surveyed educators to recognize the value of an academic project supported on conceptual basis, which broadens the role of the educators on a clearer and more independent teaching method. On the other hand, it has revealed the importance of the creation of a development standard which can provide the teacher with analytic, pondered, and skill remodeled work orientation.

O objetivo desta dissertação foi o de analisar a Proposta de Formação Continuada do Professor em parceria com a equipe interdisciplinar, desenvolvida pela Secretaria de Educação de São Bernardo do Campo no período de 1996-2003. Identificar com professores da rede municipal de ensino desse Município que atuam na Educação Especial e que vivenciaram esse processo: como repercutiu em suas práticas e se modificou a visão que possuíam sobre a deficiência; se conferiu-lhes instrumentos que os auxiliassem a enfrentar as situações do dia-a-dia, no atendimento à diversidade e na compreensão das situações dela decorrentes; se contribuiu para refletir sobre o seu papel profissional na mediação de um projeto pedagógico mais flexível e transformador; se levou a mudanças no âmbito do ser professor, do saber e do fazer pedagógico. Este trabalho está fundamentado nos estudos da psicologia histórico-cultural de Vygotsky e seus seguidores, nas concepções que embasam a formação do professor e nas contribuições dos pressupostos sobre a Interdisciplinaridade. A metodologia adotada foi o da modalidade qualitativa, imprescindível à análise das percepções e significados atribuídos pelos participantes a esse modelo formativo, expressos em entrevistas e com uso de questionários. A análise dos dados das entrevistas foi realizada em três etapas: 1) categorização das respostas das entrevistadas; 2) categorização definida sob o prisma das teorias que fundamentaram a investigação; 3) reflexões sobre as categorizações, estabelecendo uma convergência dos dados analisados na perspectiva dos dois grupos de categorias. Evidenciaram-se: a importância do processo formativo, valorizando o papel do professor e propiciando crescimento profissional; a contribuição da atividade partilhada e dos vários campos teóricos para apropriação de conhecimentos sobre a criança e suas condições de aprendizagem, fortalecendo o professor para a tomada de decisões mais refletidas e autônomas; as dificuldades relativas à formação dos profissionais da equipe que coordenavam o processo; a pouca clareza na definição dos papéis dos diferentes profissionais; o pouco envolvimento de alguns e excesso de demanda de outros; as dificuldades estruturais e de organização das unidades, deflagrando ausência de sintonia entre Secretaria de Educação e Escola. A análise mostrou que a proposta auxiliou os educadores entrevistados a reconhecerem a importância de um projeto pedagógico elaborado em bases teóricas que ampliem a condição de o professor intervir na aprendizagem de seus alunos com mais clareza e decisão. Por outro lado, assinalou a importância de realizar modelos de formação que ofereçam ao professor um referencial de trabalho mais voltado à análise, reflexão e reconstrução da prática. / This dissertation has as an objective the analysis of the Continuous Development Project, in partnership with an interdisciplinary group, developed by the São Bernardo Educational Department between the years of 1996-2003; to identify along with teachers who work with special education in that city and which have had such experience: how it reflected on their teaching and if it modified their point-of-view on the impairments; if it gave them tools to help with everyday occurrences such as the observation of the diversities and the comprehension of situations occurring due to them; if it helped them to ponder about their roles in the conciliation of more flexible and changing academic tasks; if it led to a transformation on their abilities of being teachers, having knowledge and academic skills. It has been based on Vygotsky (and disciples) historical-cultural psychology studies, regarding the concepts that support the development of the teacher and their contributions to interdisciplinary group formation. The implemented methodology considered quality, essential to the examination of the perceptions and meanings the participants assigned to this development standard, through interviews and surveys. The interviews analysis was carried on in three steps: 1st was the classification of the answers; the classification 2, defined under the hood of the theories that sustained the study; pondering on the classifications leading to a convergence of verified data on the points-of-view of both classified groups. The significance of the developing process valuing the role of the teacher and providing with professional growth became evident; the contribution of the shared activities and academic fields for the gathering of knowledge of kids and for the learning processes, stimulating the teacher on more pondered and independent decision making; the difficulties related to the development of the professionals on the group that coordinated the project; the lack of understanding on the definition of roles of the distinct professionals; the lack of commitment of some professionals and the excessive demand of others; the structural and organizational obstacles of the facilities showing the deficient synchronization between the School Board and the School itself. The analysis has shown that the project helped the surveyed educators to recognize the value of an academic project supported on conceptual basis, which broadens the role of the educators on a clearer and more independent teaching method. On the other hand, it has revealed the importance of the creation of a development standard which can provide the teacher with analytic, pondered, and skill remodeled work orientation.

Electronics technicians are frequently required to diagnose faults in equipment but are not provided with adequate training in TAFE Colleges. Hardware fault simulators currently used in TAFE Colleges for diagnostic skill development simulate only a few types of equipment and rapidly become obsolete. FAULTSIM is a computer-based simulator in which modern technology is combined with existing simulation techniques to produce a versatile aid to diagnostic skill development. In the design of the new simulator, attention has been given both to the technical features contributing to its effectiveness and to the factors favouring its adoption by teachers.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1969. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliography (leaves 85-87).

The need for higher skill levels in South Africa’s labour market warranted an investigation into why some learners from poor communities make the decision to leave high school at the end of Grade 9, whilst other learners continue to Grade 12 or tertiary education. This exploratory, longitudinal study investigated the Educational Decision Making (EDM) of 16 Grade 9, Coloured, male learners from poor neighbourhoods in Cape Town. This study identified the socio-economic factors that influenced participants’ EDM to consider leaving the school system at the end of Grade 9, or continue their education. The study applied Miles and Huberman’s (1994) approach to identify links between the socio-economic factors that influenced EDM, and to understand the learners’ educational context. These interactions were investigated using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Framework, comprising 5 traversing and Huberman’s (1994) approach to identify links between the socio-economic factors that influenced EDM, and to understand the learners’ educational context. These interactions were investigated using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Framework, comprising 5 traversing layers, namely, the micro-system, meso-system, exo-system, macro-system, and chronosystem (Watts, Cockcroft & Duncan, 2009). This qualitative study drew on semi-structured, one-on-one interviews with learners in their Grade 9 year in 2015, and makes use of followup telephonic interviews (2016) and enrolment records (2017) to verify the findings. All learners made the decision to continue to Grade 12 or tertiary education. Examples of negative influences on EDM included socio-economic challenges presented by South Africa’s transition to democracy (Chrono-system), which impacted on other systems, including inadequate school facilities (exo-system), a family history of school dropout (mesosystem), and financial instability (micro-system). Examples of positive influences on EDM included financial stability in the household (mesosystem), and the resilience and agency of learners (microsystem).

Since 2002, foreign aid has been invested to create social change in Afghanistan, but little is known about the impact on women in rural areas. This case study focused on a single Afghan woman in a rural province who received a foreign aid grant for building baking skills and broader economic development of 20 rural women. The theoretical framework was based on Haq and Sen's development theory. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with the key participant, her husband who was identified as the main source of support, and four female beneficiaries. These data were inductively coded and then subjected to thematic analysis. The primary findings of this study was that this foreign aid project succeeded in building skills for involved individuals; though wider spread of foreign aid benefits were limited by what is perceived as an inequitable distribution of assistance to rural areas, as well as Afghanistan's political, cultural, economic, and security environment. Findings from all participants in this case study (n=6) supported Haq and Sen's theoretical prediction that given the proper technical resources, an individual is capable of being self-reliant and avoiding poverty. The respondents concluded that short term change is attainable and beneficial, but will not be sustained without long-term cultural change regarding the roles of women and allocation of foreign aid. The social implications of this research may provide opportunities for Afghan community and women councils to conduct training for women with an objective to bring awareness of the importance of their participation in the economy. The findings will be compiled into a concept paper to be submitted to relevant ministries amid formulation of national capacity building policy for women in the rural area