Develops a culturally and linguistically sensitive curriculum that provides unskilled and underemployed African Americans living in San Bernardino County with vocational education for technical and office occupations. This project will operate as a resource for teachers, counselors, and trainers who assist unskilled African Americans entering the workplace and that are in need of career and professional development in office protocol, computer software applications, and verbal and written communication skills.

The purpose of this project was to develop a curriculum that will help integrate Academic, Career, and Technical Education. The basic purpose of curriculum integration is to help student make connections between academic and technical information, to help them discover the answer to "Why do I have to learn this?" In 1990, the federal government mandated the "integration" of Academic and Career and Technical Education through amendments to the Carl D. Perkins Vocation Education Act of 1984.

This study investigated the relationship between the self-directedness (as measured by the Adult Learner Self-Directedness Scale) and employability attributes (as measured by the Student Employablity Attributes Scale) of adult learners enrolled at a South African distance learning higher education institution. Correlational and inferential statistical analyses were carried out in order to realise the research objective. A stratified random sample of 1 102 mainly black and female participants participated in the study. The research indicated self-directedness to be a significant positive predictor of employability attributes and also revealed significant differences between the gender, race and age groups regarding these variables. Recommendations are suggested for use by university lecturers and human resource development professionals. / Human Resource Management / M. Comm. (Human Resource Management)

This study, largely based on literature review supplemented with information from lectures and interviews, attempts to give guidelines and make recommendations on how the gap between the school and the working world can be narrowed in South Africa to improve the employability of school-leavers. Chapter One involves the identification of the problem to be investigated. Chapter Two defines the economic role and function of the school in society in the light of different theories and practices. The present state of education in South Africa, with specific focus on how it relates to the working world, is examined in Chapter Three. Chapter Four examines the relationship between schooling and the working world in selected countries. Chapter Five proposes some guidelines and recommendations for the closer integration of the school with the world of work in South Africa. Chapter Six deals with final conclusions, new perspectives and guidelines for future research. / Educational Studies / M. Ed.

The contemporary world of work is undergoing far-reaching changes as a result of global economic developments and technological progress. This has necessitated an appraisal of the school curriculum in order to identify the life skills necessary for vocational success. As the concept of a lifetime career has become obsolete, the accent has shifted to a life chance approach in education. This approach emphasises the wide repertoire of life skills required by learners for successful participation in a range of career possibilities and in the sphere of their personal lives, the two being perceived as inseparable. A literature survey investigated the development of professional careers in historical perspective, the contribution of developmental theorists regarding trends in contemporary career progression, various dimensions of success and what motivates successful men and women in their public and private domains. Furthermore, the adjustments required by dual career couples were examined. Various dimensions of life skills for lifespan competence were investigated, with particular reference to South African society. The life orientation approach currently advocated by the new curriculum in South Africa was briefly described. A qualitative study of the life histories of twelve professionals, forty five years and over was conducted in natural settings in order to explore the life skills responsible for career and personal success. Semi-structured interviews elicited descriptive data from participants, selected by judgement sampling. Data was analysed, discussed and synthesised. The major findings emanated: Success in public and private domains was only possible if a balance between them was maintained. Family background, values and educational experiences created a facilitating environment which contributed to early character development. Certain enabling attributes were essential to achieve both career success and self-fulfilment, even among the less privileged participants. Personal obstacles were confronted and managed. Self-discipline, time management and the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle was vital. The interpenetration of public and private domains was emphasised. A sound work ethic and healthy interpersonal relationships with family, colleagues and the community were crucial. Middle and late adulthood emerged as periods of continuing, dynamic self-development. Based on these findings, recommendations for relevant life skills education were proposed. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Comparative Education)

published_or_final_version / abstract / Education / Master / Master of Education

This study investigated the relationship between the self-directedness (as measured by the Adult Learner Self-Directedness Scale) and employability attributes (as measured by the Student Employablity Attributes Scale) of adult learners enrolled at a South African distance learning higher education institution. Correlational and inferential statistical analyses were carried out in order to realise the research objective. A stratified random sample of 1 102 mainly black and female participants participated in the study. The research indicated self-directedness to be a significant positive predictor of employability attributes and also revealed significant differences between the gender, race and age groups regarding these variables. Recommendations are suggested for use by university lecturers and human resource development professionals. / Human Resource Management / M. Comm. (Human Resource Management)

This study, largely based on literature review supplemented with information from lectures and interviews, attempts to give guidelines and make recommendations on how the gap between the school and the working world can be narrowed in South Africa to improve the employability of school-leavers. Chapter One involves the identification of the problem to be investigated. Chapter Two defines the economic role and function of the school in society in the light of different theories and practices. The present state of education in South Africa, with specific focus on how it relates to the working world, is examined in Chapter Three. Chapter Four examines the relationship between schooling and the working world in selected countries. Chapter Five proposes some guidelines and recommendations for the closer integration of the school with the world of work in South Africa. Chapter Six deals with final conclusions, new perspectives and guidelines for future research. / Educational Studies / M. Ed.

The contemporary world of work is undergoing far-reaching changes as a result of global economic developments and technological progress. This has necessitated an appraisal of the school curriculum in order to identify the life skills necessary for vocational success. As the concept of a lifetime career has become obsolete, the accent has shifted to a life chance approach in education. This approach emphasises the wide repertoire of life skills required by learners for successful participation in a range of career possibilities and in the sphere of their personal lives, the two being perceived as inseparable. A literature survey investigated the development of professional careers in historical perspective, the contribution of developmental theorists regarding trends in contemporary career progression, various dimensions of success and what motivates successful men and women in their public and private domains. Furthermore, the adjustments required by dual career couples were examined. Various dimensions of life skills for lifespan competence were investigated, with particular reference to South African society. The life orientation approach currently advocated by the new curriculum in South Africa was briefly described. A qualitative study of the life histories of twelve professionals, forty five years and over was conducted in natural settings in order to explore the life skills responsible for career and personal success. Semi-structured interviews elicited descriptive data from participants, selected by judgement sampling. Data was analysed, discussed and synthesised. The major findings emanated: Success in public and private domains was only possible if a balance between them was maintained. Family background, values and educational experiences created a facilitating environment which contributed to early character development. Certain enabling attributes were essential to achieve both career success and self-fulfilment, even among the less privileged participants. Personal obstacles were confronted and managed. Self-discipline, time management and the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle was vital. The interpenetration of public and private domains was emphasised. A sound work ethic and healthy interpersonal relationships with family, colleagues and the community were crucial. Middle and late adulthood emerged as periods of continuing, dynamic self-development. Based on these findings, recommendations for relevant life skills education were proposed. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Comparative Education)

Esta pesquisa procurou investigar as relações entre a realização dos cursos do Pronatec de Formação Inicial Continuada (FIC) e a inserção dos egressos no mundo do trabalho, no período de março a dezembro de 2012, no Instituto Federal do Paraná, Câmpus Paranaguá. No que se refere à metodologia e aos objetivos a pesquisa foi descritiva, uma vez que buscou descrever as características dos egressos do Pronatec, além de ter sido também explicativa, contribuindo para a análise de possíveis causas ou consequências advindas da intervenção do Programa na vida de seus participantes, principalmente no que se refere aos aspectos do trabalho. Para tanto, esta pesquisa apresenta uma discussão sobre Estado e o campo das políticas públicas, tecendo uma síntese histórica sobre os programas de qualificação profissional que antecederam o Pronatec: o PIPMO, o PLANFOR e o PNQ. Apresenta-se, também, a conceituação das categorias trabalho, qualificação e empregabilidade, categorias estas que embasam a análise do Pronatec. A pesquisa com os egressos revelou que o perfil do aluno egresso do Pronatec no IFPR em 2012 é caracterizado por jovens com predominância do gênero feminino, na sua maioria entre 16 a 25 anos, estudantes do ensino médio de escolas públicas da cidade de Paranaguá, com renda familiar entre 2 a 4 salários mínimos e que não trabalhavam e não contribuíam para a renda familiar na época do curso. Em relação às contribuições do curso para a inserção no mundo do trabalho, 93% dos egressos declararam que sua ocupação atual nada tem a ver com a área do curso FIC realizado em 2012. Apenas dois, dos trinta egressos entrevistados, disseram trabalhar na área do curso. Quanto ao vínculo empregatício que se estabelece entre os egressos e sua ocupação atual aponta-se que, 23% dos que estão trabalhando possuem carteira assinada. No entanto, parcela significante se encontra ocupada na economia informal (os que declararam que trabalham sem carteira assinada, ou que trabalham como autônomos). Tem-se, nesse sentido, um cenário com empregos fora da área específica de qualificação proporcionada pelos cursos, somada a um elevado índice de informalidade. Por outro lado, mesmo que o emprego não tenha sido um ganho real ao final do curso, a influência do programa na vida estudantil dos egressos se mostrou positiva, já que muitos deram continuidade aos seus estudos, principalmente os jovens estudantes que na época do curso estavam na iminência da conclusão do ensino médio, além disso, muitos se motivaram a procurar novos cursos por influência direta do Programa. O Pronatec, portanto, a partir da análise dos dados levantados, caracterizou-se como um programa emergencial, voltado para a formação de mão de obra para o mercado, como uma resposta do governo federal a demanda empresarial e/ou interesses governamentais ou da estrutura administrativa/operacional dos ofertantes, mediante a oferta preponderante de cursos FIC, dando continuidade à tendência histórica de formação para o trabalho simples no Brasil, sem vínculo com a elevação da escolaridade de jovens estudantes e trabalhadores. / This research sought out to investigate the contributions from Pronatec (National Program for Technical Education and Employment Access) on initial and ongoing training courses for the insertion of graduated students into the working world, from March to December 2012, at the Federal Institute of Paraná in Paranaguá. In relation to the methodology and objectives the research was descriptive and explanatory, seeking to describe the characteristics of the former students and contributing to the analysis of possible causes or consequences arising from this Program to the participants‟ life, especially regarding to the aspects of the work. For this purpose, it is presented a discussion about the State and public policies, making a historical overview about the professional qualification programs before Pronatec: the PIPMO (Intensive Plan Preparation of Manpower), PLANFOR (National Plan for Workers‟ Qualification) and PNQ (National Qualification Plan). It also gives the conceptualization of the categories work, professional qualification and employability that support the analysis of Pronatec. The research revealed that these former students from Pronatec at IFPR in 2012 were characterized by young people with a female predominance, mostly between 16 to 25 years old, high school students from public schools in the city of Paranaguá, with family income between 2 to 4 minimum wages and who didn‟t work and didn‟t contribute to the family income during the course. In relation to the course contributions to their integration into the working world, 93% of them reported that their current jobs are not connected to the course held in 2012. Just two from the thirty interviewees reported working in the area of course. When it comes to the employment relationship established between these students and their current occupation it is noted that 23% from those who are working have a signed labor cart. However, a significant part of them work at informal economy (those who reported working without a signed labor cart or formal contract or working as self-employed). Therefore, it is noted a background where jobs are not related to the specific qualification area provided by the courses, added to a high informality rate. On the other hand, even if the job has not been a real gain at the end of the course, the influence of the program on these students‟ life was positive, since many of them have continued their studies, especially to the youngers that at that time were finishing the high school, moreover, many students were motivated to seek new courses by direct influence of the Program. The Pronatec, thus, from the analyzing data, was characterized as an emergency program, aimed to the skilled labour training, as a federal government's response to business demand and/or government interests or from administrative/operational structure from the offerers through the preponderant offer of initial and ongoing training courses, continuing the historical trend of training for simple work in Brazil, not linked to the increase in schooling levels of young students and workers.