D.Ed. (Science Curriculum) / The main problem investigated in this research is the identification of cognitive skills required for the present day labour market which should be included in technikon instructional programs. The aim of this research 'is to identify those cognitive skills which are relevant to the work/labour milieu of the technikon, and to describe the importance of these skills in the context of the teaching program ...

The overall aim of this study was to investigate how the introduction of ICT into distance education at public institutions of higher learning in South Africa during the early post-apartheid period from 1994 to 2002, provided learning opportunities for students and facilitated the delivery of learning content. More explicitly, it examined and analyzed the views and experiences of students and course facilitators at selected higher education institutions, which provided ICT-based distance education. The study also examined and analyzed the views and experiences of students regarding the services of a private on-campus Internet café located in a South African technikon (a technological institution). The empirical part of the current study was conducted in 2002, when some public higher education institutions in the country were involved in the provision of distance education as a means of increasing student participation and generating income. However, the proliferation of private actors who collaborated with some of these institutions to provide ICT-based distance education caused concern to the government that questioned their quality of content delivery. A case study research design was applied to collect, analyze and interpret quantitative and qualitative data at four universities and one technikon. Two electronic surveys were administered by email and on the Web, to self-selected students at the five case institutions. The first survey examined the views and experiences of respondents (n = 605) who participated in ICT-based distance education, while the second one investigated the views and experiences of respondents (n = 274) who used a private campus-based Internet café. Non-participant observations were made at some learning centers to understand how classes were carried out, and at the Internet café, to understand the type of services offered. Unstructured interviews were held with selected students and course facilitators at one institution, whereas informal interviews were conducted with some students and the Internet café manager. Further, a literature review was undertaken to understand certain issues and trends in ICT-based distance education, within and beyond South Africa. The findings indicate that the majority of respondents chose ICT-based distance education because it was flexible. They were also comfortable with using the English language for instruction. However, some complained that the learning materials were irrelevant and were not delivered on time. The course facilitators were generally satisfied with their work, although they were disappointed for not having the opportunity to influence changes in the study guides. Many respondents used the Internet café because they did not have any other means of accessing the Internet. Moreover, it was affordable and they used it for socializing. The study concludes that the system of instructional design and content delivery to distance education students in South Africa should be improved to become efficient. Further studies are recommended to examine the ongoing development of ICT-based distance higher education in South Africa.

D.Phil. / The purpose of this study is to design an RPL strategy for South African technikons which is based on international practices but customised to meet the needs of returningto- learning South Africans. It will open up access to or facilitate advanced standing in formal training for these learners. The strategy is based on: 1. an analysis of international perspectives on the nature of RPL and current international best practice 2. those aspects of the South African and technikon contexts which have a bearing on the customisation of RPL, and 3. responses and recommendations from two groups of RPL users which inform and refine the theory-based RPL strategy. Although the dominant research paradigm is qualitative, the study incorporates an empirical element: a descriptive cross-sectional survey and three focus group interviews held with groups of RPL users. The design for an RPL strategy is built around three specialised activities which must be carried out systematically within an institution: plan, implement and quality assure RPL. Each of these specialised activities comprises a set of functions containing a number of procedures depicting a step by step process to implement and manage an RPL strategy at three levels: at institutional, agency and candidate levels. The unique contribution of this study is that the RPL strategy can be used as a blueprint for implementing RPL and be customised to suit any context.

M.Cur. / The manager is responsible for quality education, research and appropriate community service. The aim of this study is to provide guidelines for the purpose of excellent management of a nursing department at a distance education technikon with a view to facilitating the achievement of one of these responsibilities, that is to provide quality education. In South Africa increasing demands are being made on educational structures as everyone needs to be afforded the opportunity for education and training. This also implies demands on the training of nursing staff. Theoretical and vocational training are combined in technikon training. Therefore a nursing department at a distance education technikon should be managed excellent to meet all the demands. In an attempt to make nurse training more accessible, this study focuses on management in the context of a distance education technikon. The paradigmatic perspective guiding this study is described by means of metatheoretical, theoretical and methodological assumptions. The Nursing Theory for the Whole Person is used to state the methodological and theoretical assumptions. The methodological assumptions of this study are based on Botes's research model (1994), which implies that a functional approach has been used. In phase I of the research the experience of managers of distance education nursing departments are investigated and described on the basis of individual interviews. The data is used to formulate propositions to create a tentative conceptual framework. In phase II the experience of managers of departments at a distance education technikon is investigated and described by using a focus group interview. Propositions are formulated by using the data and, together with the statements from phase I, serve as a basis for creating a refined conceptual framework. In phase III of the research a conceptual framework based on the propositions from phase I and II as well as other literature, is described. From this the final conceptual framework is formulated. Phase IV, derived from phase III, sets out guidelines for managing a nursing department at a distance education technikon.

M.Ed. (Tertiary Education) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

D.Litt.et Phil. (Information Science) / Schools of library and information science, like all professional schools, are tied to the profession they prepare their students for. They must balance the needs and demands of the profession they serve and the needs and demands of the educational institution they form part of. In South Africa and elsewhere, there is a perceived gap between the product the library schools deliver and the needs of the library and information profession. The technikons in South Africa are relative newcomers to the training and education of librarians and information workers. Their task is seen mainly as the training of paraprofessional library workers, since it is the aim of technikons to provide relevant, vocational education and training through co-operation with the relevant industries/professions. The qualification structure of technikons makes provision for different levels of undergraduate qualifications in the form of national certificates, national higher certificates, diplomas and since 1994, technikon degrees. The conventional qualification structure used for library and information science training, does not however make provision for certificate qualifications - technikons at this stage offer only the National Diploma: Library and Information Practice. There is presently no possibility for technikon diplomates to upgrade their paraprofessional qualification to professional level. The education and training of librarians and information workers through the medium of distance education is well established in South Africa. The distance education institutions use the same qualification structure as the residential institutions, despite the fact that qualifying through parttime distance education takes much longer. Distance learners therefore could benefit from interim qualifications like certificates, since it could serve as indication to their employers that they are making progress with their studies. There are indications from the library and information science profession that there is a need for more undergraduate levels of qualifications because of the different needs of the different communities in South Africa, especially those of the disadvantaged communities. The qualification structure for library and information science education at Technikon SA, which teaches through the medium of distance education, can however not be changed without consulting the library and information profession. The aim of this study is to determine whether the profession would accept a changed qualification structure. To determine this, the Delphi method is used. The Delphi method is a technique that makes use of the opinions of experts for forecasting future events. The Delphi study is supported by a literature study which serves to put the research into context by ...

M.Ed. (Tertiary Didactics)

D.Ed. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Hoër Onderwys in Suid-Afrika is in 'n proses van transformasie. Hierdie transformasie is onder meer as gevolg van internasionale wereldtendense en die historiese agterstande van onderwys in Suid-Afrika. Dit is derhalwe noodsaaklik dat instellings, soos die Oos-Rand Kampus van die Vaaldriehoekse Technikon, strategiese beplanning in sy bestuursaktiwiteite behoort te inkorporeer. Hierdie studie het strategiese bestuur as sentrale tema met komponente in die Filosofiese Antropologie en in Sakebestuur. In hierdie studie is ondersoek gedoen na strategiese bestuur as dialektiese strategiese bestuur met kenmerke van bi-polere, dualistiese en kontensieuse aard. Dit is vanuit hierdie vertrekpunt dat dialektiese strategiese bestuur in die kategoriee van menswees, soos onder meer synsopenheid, dialoog, toekomstigheid, paties-dinamiese gerelasioneerdheid, verbeelding, selfbewussyn, waardes en vryheid en besluitneming, gefundeer kan word. Dit kan gekonstateer word dat dialektiese strategiese bestuur 'n menslike aktiwiteit is wat in die Filosofiese Antropologie en in die Aksiologie gefundeer is. 'n Ondersoek is ook geloods na faktore wat die toekomstige strategiese posisie van die Oos-Rand Kampus van die Vaaldriehoekse Technikon kan beinvloed en/of bepaal Internasionale en nasionale onderwysfaktore is ondersoek en 'n nie-empiriese opname is onder personeel, studente en werkgewers uitgevoer om inligting te verkry wat in strategiese bestuur gebruik kan word. Die gevolgtrekkings van hierdie studie is in die vorm van strategiese tendense en 'n moontlike bestuursplan uiteengesit wat as 'n vertrekpunt in 'n strategiese plan vir die Oos-Rand Kampus van die Vaaldriehoekse Technikon gebruik kan word. / Higher Education in South Africa is in a process of transfonnation. This transfonnation is, amongst others, due to the international global tendencies and the historic backlog of education in South Africa It is therefore imperative that institutions, such as the East Rand Campus of the Vaal Triangle Technikon, should incorporate strategic planning in its managerial activities. This study has strategic management as a central theme with components in the Philosophical Anthropology and in Business Management. In this study strategic management has been investigated as dialectic strategic management with characteristics of a bi-polar, dualistic and contention nature. It is from this departure that dialectic strategic management can be funded in the categories of being human, namely openness to being, dialogue, futurity, pathic-dynamic relatedness, imagination, self consciousness, values and freedom and decision making. It can thus be stated that dialectic strategic management is a human activity funded in the Philosophical Anthropology and in the Axiology. An investigation has also been done pertaining factors which can influence and/or determine the future strategic position of the East Rand Campus of the Vaal Triangle Technikon. International and national educational factors have been investigated and a non-empirical survey was made among stafl: students and employers as to obtain infonnation that can be used in strategic management. The conclusion of the study is presented in the form of strategic intents and a probable management plan that can be used as a point of departure in a strategic management plan for the East Rand Campus of the Vaal Triangle Technikon. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Filosofie van die Opvoeding)

Hoër Onderwys in Suid-Afrika is in 'n proses van transformasie. Hierdie transformasie is onder meer as gevolg van internasionale wereldtendense en die historiese agterstande van onderwys in Suid-Afrika. Dit is derhalwe noodsaaklik dat instellings, soos die Oos-Rand Kampus van die Vaaldriehoekse Technikon, strategiese beplanning in sy bestuursaktiwiteite behoort te inkorporeer. Hierdie studie het strategiese bestuur as sentrale tema met komponente in die Filosofiese Antropologie en in Sakebestuur. In hierdie studie is ondersoek gedoen na strategiese bestuur as dialektiese strategiese bestuur met kenmerke van bi-polere, dualistiese en kontensieuse aard. Dit is vanuit hierdie vertrekpunt dat dialektiese strategiese bestuur in die kategoriee van menswees, soos onder meer synsopenheid, dialoog, toekomstigheid, paties-dinamiese gerelasioneerdheid, verbeelding, selfbewussyn, waardes en vryheid en besluitneming, gefundeer kan word. Dit kan gekonstateer word dat dialektiese strategiese bestuur 'n menslike aktiwiteit is wat in die Filosofiese Antropologie en in die Aksiologie gefundeer is. 'n Ondersoek is ook geloods na faktore wat die toekomstige strategiese posisie van die Oos-Rand Kampus van die Vaaldriehoekse Technikon kan beinvloed en/of bepaal Internasionale en nasionale onderwysfaktore is ondersoek en 'n nie-empiriese opname is onder personeel, studente en werkgewers uitgevoer om inligting te verkry wat in strategiese bestuur gebruik kan word. Die gevolgtrekkings van hierdie studie is in die vorm van strategiese tendense en 'n moontlike bestuursplan uiteengesit wat as 'n vertrekpunt in 'n strategiese plan vir die Oos-Rand Kampus van die Vaaldriehoekse Technikon gebruik kan word. / Higher Education in South Africa is in a process of transfonnation. This transfonnation is, amongst others, due to the international global tendencies and the historic backlog of education in South Africa It is therefore imperative that institutions, such as the East Rand Campus of the Vaal Triangle Technikon, should incorporate strategic planning in its managerial activities. This study has strategic management as a central theme with components in the Philosophical Anthropology and in Business Management. In this study strategic management has been investigated as dialectic strategic management with characteristics of a bi-polar, dualistic and contention nature. It is from this departure that dialectic strategic management can be funded in the categories of being human, namely openness to being, dialogue, futurity, pathic-dynamic relatedness, imagination, self consciousness, values and freedom and decision making. It can thus be stated that dialectic strategic management is a human activity funded in the Philosophical Anthropology and in the Axiology. An investigation has also been done pertaining factors which can influence and/or determine the future strategic position of the East Rand Campus of the Vaal Triangle Technikon. International and national educational factors have been investigated and a non-empirical survey was made among stafl: students and employers as to obtain infonnation that can be used in strategic management. The conclusion of the study is presented in the form of strategic intents and a probable management plan that can be used as a point of departure in a strategic management plan for the East Rand Campus of the Vaal Triangle Technikon. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Filosofie van die Opvoeding)