Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / The traditional approach to physiotherapy education is that of an applied science, in which scientific theory and therapeutic skills are taught in a classroom, and then implemented in a clinical setting. Many difficulties were demonstrated by students during the clinical practice component of the undergraduate course at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). This raised the question of whether current strategies of clinical education were effective in facilitating the development of the clinical skills deemed necessary for professional practice. Furthermore, it appeared to me that the teaching strategies which I employed did little to integrate classroom teaching with clinical practice. During 1993 and 1994 I initiated two cycles of workshops as an action research project, in collaboration with students and colleagues at UWC. The purpose of the workshops was for me to investigate my practice as a clinical educator, whereby I hoped to understand more fully, and therefore enhance, my teaching practice. The study revealed that clinical education is a complex and dynamic process strongly influenced by many factors. Personal perceptions of the educator's role in clinical teaching and learning, as well as the interaction with, and expections of those participating in clinical education, shape teaching practice. The concept of a positive learning environment was explored, and it was found that collaboration_with students and classroom democracy has a significant impact on student motivation. The effect of a variety of reading and writing tasks, co-operative learning and structured group discussion are some of the teaching strategies that were implemented, and positively evaluated by students and colleagues. Ethical considerations relating to the role of the patient during clinical practice and clinical education developed as an important aspect of the workshops. The conflict which can arise between the related roles of clinical educator and clinician, evolved as a professional dilemma. It is suggested that the process of clinical education requires further investigation. Educational change and innovation proved to be a difficult personal, and co-operative, process. Unique responses by different groups of individuals to similar situations or strategies make this issue more complex. In order to practice more competently, it would be appropriate that the clinical education process be thoroughly investigated in order to be more fully understood by physiotherapy educators, rather than be taken for granted. Action research proved to be an effective and flexible vehicle for investigating, and responding to, the dynamic teaching process. The action research study documented in this thesis, being similar in effect to the therapeutic process, would serve the physiotherapy clinician as effectively as it would the physiotherapy lecturer.

Magister Artium - MA / Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) continue to have a major influence in the promotion and dissemination of information, which has and continues to shape new realities of virtual campuses and virtual libraries, thus allowing students access to information and encouraging participation. This study aims to investigate the impact of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) on academic library services provision and operations, as well as how this has influenced the use of library information resources by undergraduate and postgraduate students at the university. The objectives of the research were to: assess the impact of ICTs on academic library operations and the academic librarians’ functions, assess how ICTs have influenced undergraduate and postgraduate students’ use of library information resources, identify the challenges of ICT-based library operations and services; and identify how conventional library and information services can be delivered more efficiently through ICTs. / 2022

Magister Commercii - MCom / This study investigates the financial, marketing as well as technological feasibility of turning the current University of Western Cape (UWC) Student ID Card into a more featured debit card called the "Hoop Kaarf'. This debit card will offer the functionality of access to secure UWC areas, the purchase and use of photocopying credits, the purchase of printing credits, taking out library books; and identification, as the old student card does. It will also have the added functionality of replacing cash when paying for vending machines, cafés, takeaways, shops, supermarkets and withdrawing money from ATMs, at UWC, within South Africa and outside the country.

Magister Artium (Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science) - MA(SRES) / Over the years cricket has developed from a traditional and conservative game into an extremely lucrative sport, which requires a great deal of professionalism in all surrounding areas. In recent years cricket has evolved and resulted in the emergence of Twenty20 cricket. The aim of this study focused on identifying batting trends through a comparative analysis between Varisty Cup winning teams and the University of the Western Cape Cricket Club between the age group of 18 – 25. The study used a quantitative research approach with a content analysis methodology research design. Nine key batting variables were analysed in three phases of a cricket match (Powerplay, Middle overs and Death overs) between winning teams and the University of the Western Cape Cricket Club to establish the magnitude of differences (Cohen’s effect size). The top indicators for success in the tournament were averaging a higher number of boundary fours, accumulating a higher number of single runs throughout the match, averaging a high number of sixes during the Middle and Death Overs of a batting innings and accumulating two’s throughout all three phases of a match. The overall summary of this study’s results navigates to a batting strategy that should focus on batting trends by maintaining a higher batting run rate, target to scoring more boundary fours and sixes, good running between the wickets to accumulate two’s, select batsmen with a low dismissal rate and select batsmen with a high single scoring rate [equates to better strike rotation].

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / South Africa is still under construction, with the aftermath of apartheid still lingering in the South African education system and in societal constructs amongst families of colour with low socioeconomic status backgrounds. For more than two decades since South Africa has been declared a democratically free society, education has been at the forefront as a means to socioeconomic liberation with movements such as #FEESMUSTFALL bringing to light the inequality that still lingers around access to higher education. Using human capital theory and socioeconomic mobility as a framework, the study aims to explore, describe and determine the perceived impact of university education on students from a low socioeconomic status using the case of the University of the Western Cape. / 2023

Magister Artium - MA / Several studies concur that children from a disadvantaged background are as prepared for formal schooling, compared to their advantaged peers who have access to attend good quality pre-schools. This is particularly true regarding the literature aimed at understanding the challenges that impede school readiness of Foundation Phase learners and the consequences of poor school readiness on learner’s school performance. The overall aim of the study was to explore Foundation Phase teachers’ experiences and perceptions of the challenges that impede school readiness. The research questions for this study probed the challenges that impede the school readiness of Foundation Phase learners of low-to middle-income background; the consequences of poor school readiness on learners’ school performance; the challenges encountered in the classroom by teachers regarding learners with poor school readiness; and the programmes used to assist children with poor scholastic performance. The study was informed by Bronfenbrenner’s Bio-ecological Systems Theory, to understand how the environment shapes the development of a child. The study adopted a qualitative methodological framework with an exploratory research design. The design was suitable since limited literature exists on this topic, thus proving in-depth information of Foundation Phase teachers about the phenomenon under study. Furthermore, a total number of 20 participants were included in this study, and participants were purposively selected. Data was collected by means of semi-structured individual interviews and was thematically analysed.

Magister Bibliothecologiae - MBibl / For any academic work at a university, students and staff are entirely dependent on the adequacy of the library. That is why the reason for the existence of university libraries is to provide essential study and reference material to supplement the instruction given to students in the lecture-rooms, as well as to support academic progress and research. the problem addressed in this study is to look into lecturing staff and full-time students' attitudes towards the University of the Western Cape Library. An attempt is made to identify their attitudes toward the services and the materials they are offered. In order to assess, the success of one particular library, the University of the Western Cape Library; in appeasing the needs of its users, a survey of its full-time students and lecturing staff population of six faculties was undertaken during 1999 to solicit their views on the library and its ability to fulfill their needs. The study is approached within the context of user studies as a scientific discipline around which a growing body of theoretical concepts have been formulated. It is also an area of research in which many surveys around the user and her / his needs have been conducted over the preceding decades. In particular the user of the academic library and his needs, especially at undergraduate as well as postgraduate level have been the objects of investigation. There seems to be a need to involve library staff in continuing education programmes. This will assist library users, who can expect to be informatively supported by the library .staffwho are both knowledgeable and up to date in their fields. It all helps to add to the professional competence of the staff and the skills that they produce to satisfy user needs. There are also issues for debate with regard to books and periodicals collections. It is hoped that with a better library orientation, better search strategies will be encouraged and then, probably, even more users will be satisfied with the stock. However, bearing in mind that the majority use of the library stock, on most occasions, is limited to the items available in the reserve section. Care should be taken that selection criteria are strictly adhered to, and that all the subjects taught at the university are covered, so that there are no gaps in the collections. A very real problem to the university is one of finance. The cost to duplicate, for example, prescribed texts sufficiently, will absorb a large proportion of book funds, which will mean less money left for building a balanced research, book and periodical collection. It is therefore suggested that the Senate Library Committee should try and put a well-balanced library budget in place. This will insure that the library that is regarded as the heart of the university will remain a relevant and integral part of every student's life on campus.

Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / This dissertation explores the apparent mismatch between the expectations of first year students in the English department at the University of the Western Cape, and those who teach them. By exploring the perceptions of some of the students, lecturers and tutors in the department, I investigate how meaning within the discipline of English studies is negotiated and to what extent the learning experiences in the department contribute to the facilitation of "epistemological access" (Morrow, 1993). An important aspect of meaning negotiation is the redefining and rethinking of concepts such as "academic literacy" and "critical literacy

Magister Artium - MA / The year 2015 and 2016 marked a period of heightened turmoil for the universities in the Western Cape. The three leading institutions in the province were each affected by student-led protest during that year. The Rhodes Must Fall Campaign occurred at the University of Cape Town (UCT), followed by Luister at Stellenbosch University (SU) and later the Fees Must Fall Campaign happened at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). Of the three universities, UWC was the most affected by the student-led protest in the province. Aside from the financial costs incurred by the physical damages to the university, the effects of the movement also lead to the extended shutdown of UWC in 2015 and again in 2016. / 2021-11-25

Magister Artium (Psychology) - MA(Psych) / for women to study at institutions of higher learning have increased, when compared to past generations. Despite this, student mothers, specifically, are confronted with the extra burden of parenting, together with their academic work. Using an exploratory approach, within a qualitative research design, this study aimed to explore perceptions and experiences of student mothers enrolled at the University of the Western Cape. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants, who had at least one child and were registered for a full-time undergraduate degree at the institution. Four semi-structured focus groups were held, with five to seven participants each, entailing a total of 25 female students. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, and Bronfenbrenner’s Process-Person-Context-Time model was adopted, which allowed for a nuanced understanding of the student mother within various contexts. The study received ethics approval, adhered to good ethical principles and was conducted with permission from the university’s registrar. Key themes related to the challenges experienced by student mothers were identified, including financial difficulties, and the stress of balancing their dual responsibilities of student and mother. Proximity to their children complicated their attempt to fulfil dual roles. Geographical distance from the child(ren) facilitated their performance as a student, but often at the expense of their role as mother, resulting in guilt. Close proximity to the child facilitated a closer bond with the child(ren), which impeded their academic performance. Familial support was noted as an important facilitator of performance. Family members often assisted with caregiving of the child, allowing the student mother to engage in her role as student. Some student mothers perceived a lack of support from the university, whilst others argued that it is their own responsibility to manage their commitments to study. Despite these difficulties, many student mothers found that motherhood was a motivation for them to study to secure a future for themselves and their child(ren).