Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of this research project was to determine the relationship between the way students experience family and personal coherence and the extent to which students used potential sources of support. A secondary aim was to determine the relationship between the way the students and their parents experience the type of coping strategies used by the family during crisis situations. A Biographical questionnaire, Use of Resources Questionnaire, Orientation to Life Questionnaire (OLQ), Family Sense of Coherence Scale (FSOC) and the Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scale (F-COPES) were completed by 145 first-year students at the University of Stellenbosch. Only the FSOC and the F-COPES scales were completed by parents. The results show that there is a significant positive relationship between the way students experience family and personal coherence and the importance of using sources of support. It was found that female students have a stronger sense of family coherence than male students. Significant differences were found between the experience of students and their parents of the type of coping strategies used by the family during crisis situations. Significant differences were found specifically between the way students and their parents experience obtaining social support, mobilising the family to get and accept help and the passive appraisal of a problem. The results of the research have important implications for the development and implementation of support groups and also social and life skills programmes at secondary and tertiary training establishments. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofdoelstelling van hierdie ondersoek was om die verband te bepaal tussen studente se belewing van gesins- en persoonlike koherensie en die mate waarin studente potensiële ondersteuningsbronne benut het. 'n Sekondêre doelstelling was om die verband tussen die studente en hulouers se belewing van die tipe hanteringstrategieë wat deur die gesin tydens krisissituasies gebruik word, te bepaal. 'n Biografiese vraelys, Benutting van bronne vraelys, Lewensoriënteringsvraelys (Orientation to life Questionnaire (OLQ)), Gesinskoherensieskaal (Family Sense of Coherence Scale (FSOC)) en 'n Gesinskrisisgeoriënteerde Persoonlike Evaluasieskaal (Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scale (F-COPES)) is voltooi deur 145 eerstejaarstudente aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Slegs die FSOC en F-COPES skale is deur ouers voltooi. Die resultate dui daarop dat daar 'n beduidend positiewe verband bestaan tussen studente se belewing van gesins- en persoonlike koherensie en die belangrikheid van die benutting van ondersteuningsbronne. Daar is gevind dat vroulike studente 'n sterker belewing van gesinskoherensie as manlike studente het. Beduidende verskille is gevind tussen die studente en hulle ouers se belewing van die tipe hanteringstrategieë wat deur die gesin tydens krisissituasies gebruik word. Beduidende verskille is gevind spesifiek tussen die studente en hulle ouers se belewing van die gesin se verkryging van sosiale ondersteuning, die mobilisering van die gesin om hulp te verkry en te aanvaar, en die gesin se passiewe waardering van 'n probleem. Die navorsingsresultate het belangrike implikasies vir die ontwikkeling en implementering van ondersteuningsgroepe asook sosiale en lewensvaardigheidsprogramme aan sekondêre en tersiêre opleidingsinstansies.

M. Tech. Education / Higher Education in South Africa has - in the recent past - shifted from an elitist to a mass-based system of education with the aim of fostering democratic nationbuilding. One of the pressing demands on higher education institutions has been accommodating the large student diversity. Student enrolments have become increasingly dissimilar in terms of racial, cultural, socio-economic and linguistic backgrounds, as well as at the level of preparedness that students have for university programmes. The transition from high school to university is for many students an immense challenge and - without proper support - dropouts will escalate, resulting in higher levels of attrition. The above scenario has stimulated renewed interest and placed a premium on student mentorship in higher education. Students are more willing to seek assistance from peers than from lecturers; they feel less intimidated. The rationale for this study was to explore first-year student mentees' experiences of the student mentor programme - and their experiences of transition at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). Data were collected from students who had attended the student mentoring sessions from different faculties and on different campuses of the TUT.

M. Tech. Education / Literature shows that transition from primary to high school is a challenge to learners. The aim of this study was to obtain, from qualitative data derived from structured interviews, and document review from a case study carried out in District D3 Tshwane North (Soshanguve) schools, an adequate understanding of factors that influence transition.

Any enquiry follows some incident which has prompted the question that leads to the enquiry. This study was prompted by a review of the 1974 first year examination results at the University of Fort Hare. The average percentage pass rate for that year was 59.3%. The cynic may remark that this is no different to the first year pass rate at white South African universities (cf. Erens and Louw, 1978), but when it is realised that students entering Fort Hare, or any other black university for that matter, are a highly select group, these figures have more Impact. The consequences of failure in terms of the wastage of human potential are immense (cf. Auerbach, 1977) but are more critical when this occurs, as It does, "... in a society which is competitive rather than co-operative, where people are for ever being classified according to what they have rather than that they can contribute and where competition plus classification inevitably breeds fears." Bligh (1978). A review of the first year examination results for the five years from 1971 revealed an average pass rate of 55.5% and for 1976, 1977 and 1978 a marked decline to 39.32%. For the earlier period, Downing (1977) found that 19.69% of students completed their degree courses In the minimum number of years. For the latter period (1976 to 1978) this has dropped to 16.3%, which, with the figure for the earlier period, suggests that whilst the failure rate may be highest at the end of the first year, in subsequent years it is also high. In this respect Fort Hare differs from white universities where about 75% of students complete their degrees in minimum time (cf. Erens and Louw, 1978)

Large numbers of students tend to experience failure and dropout in their first year at university. The fundamental aim of this research was to explore protective factors that could foster resilience amongst first year students. It is hoped that resilience research can give young adults the skills and support to survive academic challenges with the help of the university. This study undertook to determine resilience traits that could contribute to academic success. Students who enrolled at the University of the Western Cape for the first time during the year 2003 participated in this study.

M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / The successful adaptation to university by first year students is of prime importance to university authorities throughout the world. The high dropout rate of students is an indication that students do have a problem adapting to university. This has led to the introduction of orientation courses and the development of programmes to assist students in adjusting. This allows them a greater opportunity to experience success at university and to meet the main aim of university education - cognitive development (Behr, 1986:27) ...

Research on risk and resilience related to behaviour and poor health outcomes among young people consistently indicates the need to take greater cognisance of social and environmental factors. This is particularly true of research in developing countries. In South Africa, there is a paucity of research on these issues. This study attempts to examine risk and protective factors, as well as coping style of young South Africans at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. Environmental risk and protective factors measured were related to family, peers, and financial support. Categories of risk behaviour and poor health outcomes measured were substance use, sexual behaviour, general risk behaviour and depression. Broad-based questionnaires were sent to 2000 randomly selected students aged between 18 and 24 years old, and completed by 678 students. Results indicated that there was a trend towards gender equalisation in levels of risk and poor health outcomes- that there were significant relationships between many risk behaviours and poor health outcomes- that coping styles were correlated with risk behaviour and poor health outcomes in the expected direction (avoidance coping correlated positively and approach coping correlated negatively with risk behaviour, poor health outcomes and environmental risk factors)- and that environmental risk factors (low family, peer, and financial support) were associated with high levels of risk behaviour and poor health outcomes including sexual risks and depression. A contextual model was employed to explain the importance of environmental factors and coping styles in the promotion of health and wellbeing. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

Large numbers of students tend to experience failure and dropout in their first year at university. The fundamental aim of this research was to explore protective factors that could foster resilience amongst first year students. It is hoped that resilience research can give young adults the skills and support to survive academic challenges with the help of the university. This study undertook to determine resilience traits that could contribute to academic success. Students who enrolled at the University of the Western Cape for the first time during the year 2003 participated in this study.

D. Tech. Business Administration / The purpose of this study is to increase the depth of understanding of university managers and programme facilitators of the management and process pertaining to students performance and how the process is used to empower first year students in the Faculty of Management Sciences.

A large number of students are struggling with Information System and other computer related subjects. This has a negative impact on students’ academic performance at large. In fact, a number of students from various institutions of higher learning are facing serious Information System challenges. Information System student on NATED curriculum at Majuba TVET College are facing serious challenges on their studies. This has been indicated by their performance on Information System. This article intends to draw an attention of education stakeholders, College management and lecturers to this matter. A number of reasons leading to students poor performance in this field has been mentioned. Various studies have been conducted but yet the lack of Information System skills still persists. The main question that guided this study was: What are the stakeholders’ perceptions of the challenges encountered Information System students? In order to explore and to get some findings for this case qualitative study, semi-structured interviews with relevant stakeholders were conducted. Sample of lecturers, student’s focus groups and college management members was conducted. Data collected from various participants were transcribed verbatim. A combination of literature and data collected produced some findings on the matter. In an attempt to answer the main question, recommendations were made. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)