Submitted in compliance with the requirement for Master’s Degree in Technology: Marketing, Retail, and Public Relations, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / The South African Further Education and Training (FET) sector is facing the challenge of being rated and considered by many young school leavers and the community as a second choice institution, while universities are their first priority. This study aimed to investigate and explore student’s expectations and perceptions of Colleges in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) with respect to their choice of college. The main objective of this research was to identify students’ expectations and perceptions, and the factors that encourage enrolment at FET colleges, as well as to identify the different expectations and perceptions, according to demographic factors. The SERVQUAL model was employed to establish students’ expectations against perceptions of FET colleges in KZN. The study design was quantitative in nature, using a descriptive technique, cross sectional, and collected data through the application of non-probability sampling with census, quota and convenience sampling methods being utilized to obtain data from a sample of 301 respondents. Data collected from the respondents were analysed with SPSS version 20.0 and interpreted with the use of descriptive and inferential statistics. The questionnaire measured students’ expectations and perceptions in five dimensions of service, namely tangibles, reliability, assurance, responsiveness and empathy. The findings demonstrate that students had higher expectations of service quality with lower perceptions of the actual service received. The negative gaps within the five SERVQUAL service quality dimensions, implies that the students were dissatisfied with the level of service in their FET colleges. The gaps, from largest to smallest, were Reliability, Assurance, Tangible, Responsiveness, and Empathy. FET College management is advised to attend to these above-mentioned gaps and to ensure that the necessary strategies are immediately implemented, as these would improve the FET brand and ultimately position FET Colleges as the institution of first choice in KZN. / M

The current landscape of South Africa’s education system is one riddled with many challenges. Young people studying in this unfavourable climate have become disillusioned by the failing system and this has resulted in negative attitudes towards schooling. A shortage of teaching personnel and a lack of resources further exacerbate the situation. In recent years however, it has been found that a significant number of young people seem to have “beaten the odds”, in spite of these unfavourable conditions as they have seen themselves being granted entry into tertiary institutions. The dearth of information on academic resilience and the increased number of “educational success stories” led the researcher to embark on this qualitative study. The aim of this exploratory, descriptive and contextual research study was: to enhance understanding of the academic resilience and subsequent academic success at school, as experienced by first year NMMU students from disadvantaged communities, by exploring their constructions of academic resilience. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory as well as Resilience Theory was used to examine the phenomenon of academic resilience. Purposive sampling techniques was utilised to draw participants within the NMMU’s School of Behavioural Sciences and data was collected by means of narrative accounts by participants. The two phases of narrative analysis were applied to analyse the data collected and Guba’s model for trustworthiness was used to verify the data. The findings of the study indicated that both intrinsic and extrinsic factors contribute to the fostering of resilience.

This study examines the reasons given for the lack of interracial contact among 188 (142 Black, 25 White and 19 Coloured) university students. The most pervasive factor influencing such contact for the whole group (79.1 percent) was language differences. The statements endorsed by most black participants were; differences in behaviour (62.9 percent), socio-economic status (56.0 percent) and culture (52.5 percent). The coloured participants endorsed statements concerning socio-economic status (61.1 percent), culture (42.1 percent) and dissociation (42.1 percent). The white participants endorsed statements regarding race issues (64.0 percent), differences in behaviour (60.0 percent) and cultural differences (44.0 percent). This study found that metastereotypes social distance and contact correlate with prejudice. Metastereotypes and social distance positively influence prejudice in that an increase in these factors is associated with heightened levels of prejudice. The amount of contact between groups has a negative relationship with prejudice, indicating that increased levels of contact are associated with a decrease in prejudice.

D.Cur. / The overall objective of this study is to describe a model that will serve as theoretical framework for facilitating interaction to both nurse educators and nursing students during conflict at a college of nursing. There is need for transformation at colleges concerning interaction during conflict and that can be facilitated through practising the opposite elements of negative interaction, identified in the field-work of the research study, which is compliance with norms, justice which is fair and equal treatment, facilitative communication, power sharing, facilitative peer group dynamics. A unique contribution in the model description is the facilitative interaction elements identified as opposites of the results of the field research, namely: Compliance with norms Justice, which is fair and equal treatment Facilitative communication Power sharing Facilitative peer group dynamics.

M.Cur. / Although clinical evaluation and examination is regarded as the basis of scientifically founded nursing care, it is inherently a subjective process. This process is complicated by the variability of four inter-related systems, namely the eyaluator, the clinical environment, the student nurse and other individuals. The purpose of the study was the analysis of current evaluation practices and the OSCE and to determine the perception of clinical educational personnel and student nurses in this regard. Consequently a descriptive exploratory survey was done by means of a questionnaire. For the purpose of this study, clinical teaching. Personnel and student nurses associated with the nine affiliated hospitals of one nursing college in the Transvaal were approached. From the obtained data it appears that clinical evaluation and examination remains, to a certain degree, a subjective process. Preconceptions probably influence human judgement. In spite of the occurrence of identified variables the OSCE appears to be a more acceptable approach to clinical examination than traditional long examination methods.

M.Ed. / However much ideologically diffuse argument there may be about the purposes of education, few would deny that it plays an integral part in the political and economical processes of societies. For the realities of power and the organisation of socio-economic structure are perhaps nowhere more clearly revealed than in a country's educational institutions. Education can maintain the existing social order as well as promote varying kinds of change (Toffler, 1971). Social scientists accept that "education is perhaps the most directly effective socialising activity serving the interests of dominant establishments" (Schlemmer, 1986: 1). Its curricula is a means of inculcating the political values as well as the skills required in the system of control and production in society (Wellington, 1987: 6). Education takes place relatively unobtrusively in homogenous societies but in deeply divided societies, it can become the focus of intense and often violent conflict. "In South Africa education is failing badly in what modern education is supposed to do draw different groups or classes together (Schlemmer, 1986: Preface). Hanf (1980), in addition, argues that education can do little to solve conflict in divided societies. He stresses that the significance of education in some societies lies in its negative role as a focus of conflict. Access to and equality of education for different groups has indeed been at the source of very bitter conflict throughout the world...

M.A. (Applied Linguistics) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Cur. (Nursing Education) / There is a high number of nursing students suffering from the HIV and AIDS pandemic, causing them to have low self-esteem, being stigmatized and being on the receiving end of negative attitudes from their nursing colleagues. The infected students perform poorly and decide to terminate their training. This has a significant impact on the nursing profession, which is already suffering from a tremendous shortage of nurses (Minaar, 2005: 31). The purpose of this study is to explore and describe the experiences of student nurses living with HIV and AIDS at a nursing college in Gauteng, and to describe the strategies to improve the support system for these student nurses. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, contextual phenomenological study was used in order to gain insight into the experience of student nurses living with HIV and AIDS. A purposive sampling method was used. The data collection method was collated through an individual semi-structured interview. Open-coding data analysis method using Tesch’s protocol (in Creswell 2009: 186) was used. Measures to ensure trustworthiness were used according to Lincoln and Guba’s Model (1985: 327). Ethical standards for nurse researchers were adhered to in accordance with the DENOSA position statement (1998). The experiences of nursing students living with HIV and AIDS at a nursing college in Gauteng included both positive and negative categories. The following sub-category emerged under the positive experiences of coping with HIV and AIDS: aspects related to internal motivation and positive self-talk. Emerging themes were: 1. living positively with HIV and AIDS, 2. spiritual fulfillment, 3. Hope: 3.1 hope to live for one’s child/children and 3.2 hope for a cure of HIV and AIDS; 4. concern for colleagues and patients living a risky lifestyle. The following sub-category emerged under the negative experiences: The negative emotion related to the disease process. Emerging themes were: 1 fear: 1.1 fear of disclosure, 1.2 fear of stigmatisation, 1.3 fear of re-infection; 2 stress: 2.1 stress experienced when nursing terminally ill HIV and AIDS patients, 2.2 stress caused by inability to meet academic requirements due to the physical impact of the disease (sickness, exhaustion and fatigue); 3 side effects of ARVs; 4 the lack of support: 4.1 lack of support from family members, 4.2 lack of support from tutors and colleagues. The supportive strategies were described. Recommendations for Nursing Education, Nursing Research and Nursing Practice were made.

Thesis (M.A. (Criminology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Campus safety is an important part of a student’s overall university experience. However, safety and security are an issue that institutions of higher learning have to deal with and address within their campuses. The focus of this study was to explore students’ safety at the Universities of Limpopo (UL) and Venda (UNIVEN). This study adopted an exploratory triangulation approach. A triangulation design was implemented to allow the researcher the opportunity to collect qualitative and quantitative data and thereafter, integrate the results in the interpretation stage. For triangulation purposes, data was collected using interviews and a self-administered questionnaire. For the qualitative phase of the research (phase I), twenty face to face interviews were conducted and for the quantitative phase (phase II), eight hundred and nineteen respondents responded to the questionnaire. This study employed Routine Activities Theory (RAT) to discuss the findings. Some of the findings were that the majority of female students who reside off-campus were fearful of being victimised. More female students than males were more concerned of sexual harassment and rape. These criminal incidents were statistically significant. The study further reveals that a lack of sufficient lighting, alcohol and illicit drugs, campus camera surveillance, crime reporting, and the visibility of emergency phones are some of the contributing factors associated with students victimisations. There are no visible police patrolling around the campuses of UL and UNIVEN. The majority of the students do not report their victimisation to the police or campus authorities. Furthermore, this study reveals that there is no relationship between gender and the perception of safety. However, age and level of study have a relationship to the perception of safety and were statistically significant. Based on these findings, crime awareness campaigns, visibility of police patrolling around the campus, and the police should work closely with the University authority.

Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / Background: Worldwide, childhood obesity has increased over the past few decades. It has become a public health concern in South Africa and in many developing countries. The aim of the study was to determine the knowledge and perceptions of grade 10 and 11 learners towards obesity within Seshego Circuit of Capricorn District in Limpopo Province. Methods: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study design and stratified random sampling method was used in the selection of 194 learners from three (3) high schools. Data were analysed using SPSS v24.0 and both frequencies and inferential statistics were analysed. Results: Results from the study showed that 53% of learners were females and 47% were males. The mean score for knowledge was 4.2 ± 1.08 ranges from 1 to 6 and 92% (179/194) of learners were considered to be knowledgeable. There was no statistical significant association between knowledge and socio- demographic profiles of learners (p>0.05). Shared perception of obesity among learners include lack of self-control (90%); losing weight naturally (40%); being less attractive than other children (74%). Conclusion: The findings from the study revealed varied perceptions on obesity with most learners significantly knowledgeable. Programmes focusing on prevention of obesity among learners should be strengthened.