Thesis (M.P.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

The objective of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of the development of professional judgement during the two year work-based pre-admission training period (PEAT 2) required of Scottish solicitors so as to identify a model that allows them to respond to the changes the UK legal services sector is experiencing. The methodology adopted throughout reflects an emphasis on researching knowledge in the context of its application (Flyvbjerg 2001). Professional judgement is described as the ‘heart of professional practice’ (Fish and Coles 1998) and is therefore selected to provide a holistic method of evaluation. The UK legal profession is fragmenting in its response to market pressures, including the introduction of external regulation and ‘alternative business structures’ under the Legal Services Act 2007 and increased globalisation, specialisation and commoditisation. It is therefore important to identify the traditional method used by Scottish solicitors to develop their judgement as there is a risk that what was previously implicit and assumed in this ‘community of practice’ (Wenger 1998) becomes dissipated. As a result, the relevance and application of judgement is considered in the context of professional practice and solicitors in particular. The effect of external influences are interpreted, including in relation to the job of a solicitor, the future development of judgement and implications for legal education. The research method adopted enables confidential data to be obtained about the development of professional judgement and the PEAT 2 processes through completion of semi-structured interviews with a number of Scottish law firms, the Law Society of Scotland and related regulatory organisations, supplemented with Scottish trainee focus groups and comparative data from illustrative law firms and regulators in England and Wales. This allows 10 detailed case studies of law firms to be developed and analysed using Eraut’s (2007) model of early career learning and Fuller and Unwin’s (2003) model of expansive and restrictive apprenticeships as well as providing commentary from experienced solicitors and regulatory sources on the development of professional judgement. This allows 10 detailed case studies of law firms to be developed and analysed using Eraut’s (2007) model of early career learning and Fuller and Unwin’s (2003) model of expansive and restrictive apprenticeships as well as providing commentary from experienced solicitors and regulatory sources on the development of professional judgement. This data enables an analysis of the effectiveness of the current Scottish pre-admission training processes and the identification of methods used to develop the judgement of novices. Findings indicate that elements of the formal requirements of PEAT 2 are limiting the experiential and reflective learning of trainees and, in the wider context of work-based learning, that professional judgement is developed through exposure to reflective practice in a ‘community’ that provides an expansive apprenticeship and establishes parameters of acceptable choices. Recommendations include adjustments to pre-admission legal training and the introduction of a specialist qualification, accredited by the Law Society of Scotland.

Following the availability of antiretrovirals (ARVs) for the treatment of HIV in the public sector from 2004 to 2008, thousands of multidisciplinary health care workers were trained by RHRU on HIV care and ARVs on behalf of the South African Department of Health. To ascertain if, and to what extent, transfer of learning had occurred, a case study approach was used involving a sample of seventy alumni. Data was collected via questionnaire, interview and observation tools. Data collected suggests that transfer of learning took place at some level for most alumni but was weakest with non clinical staff in ARV sites and ward based staff, many of whom did not feel that they treated HIV patients. The study concludes that the ‘one size fits all’ approach preferred by the Department of Health did not support effective transfer of learning for all alumni mainly due to the subsequent inappropriate training design for many participants and the impact of this on motivation and connection to a less enabling transfer climate. To optimize the possibility of transfer, therefore, HIV training should be specifically designed for the learning needs of each cadre of health care worker with clear expected changes to practice for participants, linked to supporting transfer environments post training.

Thesis (M Sport Sc (Sport Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The motivation for this research evolved from a study of Flow in Sport (Jackson & Csikszentmihalyi, 1999). Flow is described as a state of optimal experience that could be attained by becoming immersed in a challenging task that absorbs all the attention on the task at hand. Physical exercise was used in this study because it provides a flow-conducive environment in which challenges can easily be gauged and increased, giving essential motivational feedback. A broad spectrum of sport psychology and flow-related research was applied in the design of a comprehensive and easily accessible system of understanding what it means to experience flow. Research that relates to the use of visualisation, relaxation and the use of natural triggers are key factors used in the implementation of the programme. The concept of flow was founded in seven fundamental elements that need to be present in order to experience flow. The programme was developed during several phases of sample testing over a period of two years to refine and condense the system so it would not detract attention from the task at hand. The final seven-week programme was presented to a sample of seven participants on a one-on-one basis. A combination of quantitative (measurements of performance levels in the chosen activity taken before and after the intervention programme intervention and qualitative (participants’ comments which were written down in terms of personal experiences related to the programme after completing the programme) methods were used to assess the effectiveness of the devised programme. Ground Evaluation Theory is described by Patton (1980) as the systematic working out of hypotheses and concepts during the course of research. This was a central feature of the nature of the development of the present programme. Patton (1980) describes a meta-evaluation as an evaluation of an evaluation. This was applied over the two-year period while refining and simplifying the present intervention so as to reduce potentially distracting analysis by participants. Using a standardised protocol, participants made use of personal past optimal experiences that epitomise each of the fundamental aspects of being in flow. These experiences (or blueprints) were then associated with natural triggers formed by seven segments of the human body to subconsciously refresh and enhance access to these past optimal states. A flow-chart on which these images were drawn was designed. It was used in conjunction with relaxation and visualisation to continually re-visit, refresh and apply these states of mind to reaching new peaks. Subjects were to visualise themselves immersed in performance of their task at the level set as the goal for the end of the programme. The past blueprinted states were used to recreate an optimal mental approach during this visualised performance. The goals were broken down into achievable challenging steps of progression with the use of personal training programmes designed by a sports scientist to be effective for attaining goals which were set. The flow-programme was evaluated in terms of setting training schedules, taking measurements and setting goals before intervention and then gauging the progress of these factors after the implementation of the programme. The factors measured were: the level of flow experienced in the chosen activity; satisfaction with life; adherence to the programme; and achievement of training goals. These variables were measured by comparing results in standardised tests which have proven reliable for measuring flow and satisfaction with life. Adherence to the programme was measured relative to the amount of training that had been specified in the programme designs. The attainment of goals was also measured by the percentage of goals that had been achieved, compared with those set by each participant for the programme.The results show that the subjects benefited from the programme on the four measures. The subjects also commented that they found the programme to be a highly effective tool for grasping an understanding of the concept of flow, as well as experiencing this elusive state. It was concluded that flow could be tapped into at a volitional level by using the devised intervention.

The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of different in-season strength and power training frequencies to strength and power performance over the course of a 22 week rugby league competition period. Twenty-eight male (n=28) participants, with both high and low strength pre-training status, were divided into three groups following a 15 week pre-season strength and power training programme. A four week periodised in-season strength and power training programme, with intensities ranging from 75-100%, was cycled for the 22 week competition season. Strength and power training was conducted one day.week(-1) by the first high pre-training status group (HTFL, n=11), and two day.week(-1) by the second high pre-training status group (HTF2, n=9). The low pre-training status group (LTF1, n=8) performed the same strength and power training frequency and programme as HTF1. Training intensity (% 1RM) and volume (sets x repetitions) of in-season strength and power training sessions were standardised for both groups during each training week. Strength, power, and speed data were collected pre-season, and four times during the in-season period. No differences were found between HTF1 and HTF2 in performance variables throughout the 22-week in-season period. Both HTF1 and HTF2 displayed similar significant detraining effects in strength, power, and speed, regardless of in-season training frequency (p<0.05). LTF1 showed no change from pre-season strength and power performance following 22 weeks of the competition period (p<0.05). It was concluded that in-season strength and power training frequency may have a limited role in determining the success of the in-season strength and power training programme in highly trained footballers. The results of the present study suggest a number of factors other than in-season strength and power training frequency may affect in-season strength and power performance and detraining in high strength pre-training status athletes. The effect the start of a competition period has on dynamic athletic performance needs further investigation.

Thesis (M.A. (Psigologie)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

<p>Mentoring has gained a great deal of popularity across various professional fields and disciplines over the past few years. More recently, planned mentoring has become an important form of intervention with young people (Philip, 2003). Although mentoring can be an effective strategy for dealing with youth, the mentoring is only as good as the relationship that develops out of the process between mentors and mentees and the match that is made between the two parties. The number of mentor programmes that is running continues to grow yet the quality of these programmes remains unknown as this area lacks agreed upon sets of standards and / bench marks that could be used to determine the effectiveness of these programmes (Sipe, 1988 -1995). The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the mentors&rsquo / perceptions of the effectiveness of a mentor training programme run by Big Brother Big Sister South Africa.</p>

The completed research is likely to show insufficiency of physical activity in Lithuanian schools; for this reason, the number of schoolchildren distributed into special medical groups is increasing. It is not always enough to have some PE lessons to make pupils fit. Some PE lessons does not offer the solution to the problems of decreasing physical activity, poor physical health and ever – increasing sickness rate. However, the problems can be solved and the positive attitude developed by individual exercising. Due to a tendency for physical activity among the youth to decrease we raised a scientific problem which can by solved by adopting positive attitude to physical training and supplying the need for a healthy and physically active way of life. Hypothesis – The use of Olympic training programme to adopt the positive attitude towards physical training and factors which influence its development. Research aim – to examine the impact of the Olympic program on the 7-9 form pupils’ attitude towards physical self-training. Research tasks: 1. To research the attitude to physical activity, physical self-training and explain the reasons which stimulate or hinder a child’s individual exercising. 2. To evaluate the impact of the Olympic training programme on the development of the pupils’ attitude to physical self-training and factors which determine its development. 3. To examine the differences of attitude to physical self-training among different age groups. 445 7-9 form... [to full text]

Bajarūnaitė, A., UAB “ERMITAŽAS” konsultantų – pardavėjų mokymo programos tobulinimas ekonominės krizės metu. [Rankraštis]: bakalauro baigiamasis darbas: vadyba ir verslo administravimas. Vilnius, ISM Vadybos ir ekonomikos universitetas, 2009 SANTRAUKA Šio bakalauro baigiamojo darbo tema yra UAB “ERMITAŽAS” konsultantų – pardavėjų mokymo programos tobulinimas ekonominės krizės metu. Darbo tikslas — pateikti įmonei sprendimus, kaip patobulinti konsultantų-pardavėjų mokymo programą ekonominės krizės metu. Siekiant darbo tikslo yra užsibrėžti šie uždaviniai: • atlikti įmonės UAB”ERMITAŽAS” vidinės ir išorinės aplinkos analizę. • atlikti empirinį tyrimą, kurio tikslas nustatyti konsultantų-pardavėjų mokymosi poreikį bei jų mokymo galimybes. • pateikti vadybinius sprendimus, kaip mokyti konsultantus-pardavėjus. Baigiamąjį bakalauro darbą sudaro trys dalys: situacijos analizė, empirinis tyrimas ir vadybiniai sprendimai. Situacijos analizės dalyje yra pateikta bendra informacija apie įmonę, atlikta vidinė ir išorinė įmonės analizė, taip pat pristatyta iškilusi probleminė situacija. Empirinio tyrimo dalyje aprašyta tyrimo metodika, koks tyrimas buvo atliktas, kaip vyko tyrimo eiga. Taip pat pateikti tyrimo rezultatai ir išvados. Vadybinių sprendimų dalyje pateikiami sprendimai iškeltai problemai spręsti. Šio darbo rezultatas — pateikti sprendimai įmonei UAB“ERMITAŽAS“, kaip patobulinti konsultantų-pardavėjų mokymo programą ekonominės krizės metu. / Bajarūnaitė, A., UAB “ERMITAŽAS” Sales Staff Training Programme Improvement during Economic Recession. [Manuscript]: Bachelor Thesis: Management and Business Administration. Vilnius, ISM University of Management and Economics, 2009. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The subject of this paper is UAB “ERMITAŽAS” sales staff training programme improvement during economic recession. The main goal of this paper is to prepare and provide solutions for the company how to improve sales staff training programme in times of economic crisis. To achieve this goal following objectives are defined: • to perform company’s internal and external analysis. • to perform empirical research with the purpose to assess sales staff training need and sales staff training possibilities. • to prepare managerial solutions, how to improve sales staff training programme. This Bachelor Thesis consists of three parts: situation analysis, empirical research and managerial solutions. General information about the company, internal and external analysis of the company and the main problem, the company have to deal with are presented in situation analysis. Empirical research part includes detailed description of research, how it was proceeding as well as results of the research. In managerial solutions part there are presented decisions which shoud help the company to solve the existing problem, how to improve sales staff training programme during economic recession. The result of this paper is prepared... [to full text]

<p>Mentoring has gained a great deal of popularity across various professional fields and disciplines over the past few years. More recently, planned mentoring has become an important form of intervention with young people (Philip, 2003). Although mentoring can be an effective strategy for dealing with youth, the mentoring is only as good as the relationship that develops out of the process between mentors and mentees and the match that is made between the two parties. The number of mentor programmes that is running continues to grow yet the quality of these programmes remains unknown as this area lacks agreed upon sets of standards and / bench marks that could be used to determine the effectiveness of these programmes (Sipe, 1988 -1995). The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the mentors&rsquo / perceptions of the effectiveness of a mentor training programme run by Big Brother Big Sister South Africa.</p>