No description available.

No description available.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Masters of Technology: Quality,Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2012. / This study examined the quality, employability and the competencies of graduates from the Department of Operations and Quality Management at Durban University of Technology (DUT). The objectives of the study included determining the relevance of the curriculum to the workplace; evaluating the views of graduates regarding employability; and assessing the views of organisations regarding graduate performance in the workplace. The study also proposes that with the knowledge and skills acquired in the field of Operations Management, graduates should be able to reach their full personal and professional potential. However, these graduates still experience difficulties in adjusting and coping with the realities of the labour market. Combinations of qualitative and quantitative research methods were used. The study was exploratory in nature. The study made use of questionnaires to obtain the respondent’s view. The pilot study composed a sample of ten graduates. For the main study, forty of the sixty graduates and employers completed and returned the questionnaires that were administered. The response rate was 67%. The Cronbach’s Alpha Reliability Analysis was used to measure the reliability of the questionnaires. Face validity was verified by the statistician for pre-administering of questionnaires. The results revealed that obtaining a qualification in operations management at DUT increases the employability of graduates. The study also showed that employers are content with the way in which these graduates are able to translate their theoretical knowledge into practice, and to identify and solve problems within organisations. However, the study shows that some employers did not provide adequate support and guidance in relation to their development. / M

This case study examined the self-directed and team-based learning activities of a software quality assurance organization in central Indiana. The skills required to assure a high level of software quality evolve rapidly and software quality professionals must embrace ongoing technology and process changes. The thirty focus group participants performed a variety of quality assurance tasks including configuration management, research, automated test development, test planning and execution, and team leadership. The case study was based on semi-structured interviews of four focus groups of software quality professionals, and explored the learning styles, preferences, and activities deployed to learn new technologies and solve complex software problems. Software products are becoming increasingly pervasive in our culture. The study of continuing education for the software quality profession is important due to our increased reliance on this profession to meet customer expectations for high-quality software products. The proliferation of software products in our culture has also increased the demand for software quality professionals. Those professionals who have access to continuing professional education to improve and maintain skills have the opportunity to meet customer expectations. There is no mandated certification or licensing for this profession therefore professionals are left to chart their own course of learning. This study sought to understand how these software quality professionals meet their continuing professional educational needs. As well, the study identified key resources required to support such continuing professional education both within the workplace and off the job. Future study of the role of critical self-reflection in establishing learning objectives could enhance our understanding of how software quality professionals identify and plan their learning activities. Further investigation of the value of computer programming and logic knowledge to the software quality professional would benefit our understanding of baseline skill requirements for the various roles performed in the profession. There are also opportunities to engage in future action research projects on co-location of teams, mentoring, and job rotation strategies, as employees were found to learn effectively from peers. / Department of Educational Studies

There is a great need for qualified MBL and MBA graduates in South Africa to support and maintain the current growth rate that the economy is experiencing. Diligent effort is required to ensure that the locally acquired MBA/MBL qualifications remain on par with international qualifications. As an initial step to ensure high standards, the Council for Higher Education (CHE) did accreditation evaluations and only 18 MBA courses are now accredited. Admission criteria for the MBA/MBL is one of the minimum standards being assessed as part of the accreditation process conducted by the CHE. / Department of Industrial & Organisational Psychology / M.B.L.

Darbe atlikta teorinė studijų kokybės vertinimo ypatumų analizė. Iškelta hipotezė, kad studentų požiūris į socioedukacinių studijų programų (socialinės pedagogikos/darbo) kokybę yra sąlygotas subjektyvių veiksnių (universiteto, specialybės, studijų programos ir pan.) Anketinės apklausos metodu buvo atliktas tyrimas, kurio tikslas - išanalizuoti, kaip Lietuvos universitetų bakalauro lygio aukštesniųjų kursų dieninio skyriaus socioedukacinių studijų programų (socialinės pedagogikos/darbo) studentai vertina pasirinktas programas, jų kokybę. Atlikta statistinė (aprašomoji dažnių, procentų, vidurkių, standartinių nuokrypių, koreliacijos (r)) duomenų analizė. Tyrime dalyvavo 193 Lietuvos universitetų bakalauro lygio dieninio skyriaus socioedukacinių studijų programų (socialinė pedagogika/darbas) studentai. Empirinėje dalyje nagrinėjama, kaip socioedukacinių studijų programų studentai vertina pasirinktas studijų programas ugdomų gebėjimų, studijų apimties dalykų, studijų blokų, modulių, skatinančių/neskatinančių veiksnių sistemingai dirbti semestro metu, praktikų ir nacionalinės švietimo politikos aspektais. Svarbiausios empirinio tyrimo išvados: 1. Hipotezė tikėtina, kad studentų požiūris į socioedukacinių studijų programų (socialinės pedagogikos/darbo) kokybę yra sąlygotas subjektyvių veiksnių pasitvirtino . 2. Socioedukacinių studijų programų (socialinės pedagogikos/darbo) kokybės vertinimus lėmė tokie subjektyvūs veiksniai kaip respondentų specialybė, kursas bei universitetas... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The theoretical analysis of the evaluation of the quality of study was carried out in this paper work. The hypothesis that students attitude towards the quality of socioeducational study programmes (social pedagogics/work) is effected by subjective factors (university, speciality, study programmes and so) was made. According to the method of questionnaire there was a research made which aim was to analyse how Lithuanian Bachelor full-time students in higher courses of socioeducational study programmes (social pedagogics/work) evaluate the programmes, their quality. A statistic data analysis was made (descriptive frequency, percentage, average, standard deviation, correlation (r)). 193 Lithuanian Bachelor full-time students in higher courses of socioeducational study programmes (social pedagogics/work) participated in this research. In the empirical part students evaluate the programmes they have chosen, what skills are developed, study components, modules, stimulating/non-stimulating factors influence work and study systematically on the aspects of practical and national educational policy. The most essential conclusions of the research: 1. The hypothesis is reliable that students attitude towards the quality of socioeducational study programmes (social pedagogics/work) is determined by subjective factors. 2. The evaluation of the quality of socioeducational study programmes (social pedagogics/work) was determined by subjective factors such as the respondents speciality... [to full text]

There is a great need for qualified MBL and MBA graduates in South Africa to support and maintain the current growth rate that the economy is experiencing. Diligent effort is required to ensure that the locally acquired MBA/MBL qualifications remain on par with international qualifications. As an initial step to ensure high standards, the Council for Higher Education (CHE) did accreditation evaluations and only 18 MBA courses are now accredited. Admission criteria for the MBA/MBL is one of the minimum standards being assessed as part of the accreditation process conducted by the CHE. / Department of Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.B.L.

No description available.