South Africa stands on the threshold of a new era in education. The separate and fragmented model for the provision of education, which signified a policy of apartheid, is to be replaced by a single unified system. With the adoption of a new interim Constitution (1993), we have, for the first time, formal recognition of human rights, the application of which, will underlie all legislation and administration decisions (Dean in Neon, May 1994:9-10). On 31 March 1994, the 'own affairs' administrations were abolished. In accordance with the interim Constitution (1993), these structures have, however, been retained and will continue until the transition to a new dispensation takes place (Neon, May 1994:20). Progress towards achieving the goal of a unified education system includes, inter alia, the creation of a Department of Education and Training at a national level, as well as the creation of provincial administrations in 9 provinces, each of which will have its own education department (Neon, June 1994:1). The new government stands committed to early childhood development. The care and development of infants and young children is seen to be the foundation of social relations and the starting point of a national human resource development strategy. Policy proposals outlined by the Department of Education in the Draft White Paper recommend that: “The care and development of infants and young children must be the foundation of social relations and the starting point of a national human resource development strategy ..... The new national department is planned to have a directorate for Early Childhood Development and Lower Primary Education, in the light of continuity in developmental approaches to the young child and the need for a reshaping of curricula and teaching methodology for the early years of school …… The year 1995 should be used mainly for planning the development of the reception year……” (Republic of South Africa, 1994:20). As far back as 1981, the De Lange Commission stated that without a corps of well-trained and talented teachers, any attempts aimed at realizing the potential of a country's inhabitants, improving the quality of life of its citizens, promoting economic growth and providing an equal system of education, cannot be successful. No other single factor determines to such an extent the quality of education in a country, as the quality of the corps of its teachers (HSRC, 1981:59 & 180). It is anticipated that the demand for teachers is likely to increase as a result of the phasing-in of compulsory education commencing with the class one child, the introduction of a reception class year, reduction of class sizes to 40 pupils and the enrolment of out-of-school children. Trained manpower will prove to be a major problem and an accelerated programme of teacher education to meet quantitative needs, without compromising quality, will be essential, in order to successfully implement a reception class year, ensure a better distribution of qualified teachers and cater for ever-increasing numbers of school-going children. Major structural changes will, therefore, be needed in the preparation and development of teachers. It is within the context of this background information, that this study has been conducted, namely to develop appropriate teacher-training structures for the foundation phase of education, with particular reference to the reception class year. The specific purposes of the study were:- * to review pre-primary provision; * to review current teacher-training structures and assess priorities and needs for developing appropriate methods of professional training; * to compare pre-primary provision and teacher-training policy with that of developing and developed countries; * to develop strategies to train and accredit teachers through a shortened PRESET structure; * to upgrade existing teacher qualifications through an approved INSET structure; * to analyse the feasibility of the proposed strategies for the KwaZulu-Natal region. The study involved an analysis of the NEPI sectoral reports on Early Childhood Educare and Teacher Education, the ERS and the KwaZulu-Natal Interdepartmental Working Groups' Discussion Documents. In addition, other relevant reports and working papers have also been consulted. Viable options for the training of teachers for the foundation phase of education which emerged from the study were: * the establishment of links between non-formal and formal training programmes; * the development of a modular career path for the coordinated training of teachers through INSET; * the development of a 5-year plan for the phasing in of qualified teachers through PRESET and INSET; * the development of an appropriate course structure; * an outline of governance and control. The main recommendations made in the study include the following:- * the obtaining of a Reception Class Diploma which will allow experienced educare workers to obtain a formally-recognised diploma in reception class education, part-time, whilst currently employed as a teacher; * the recognition of such a diploma should the student not wish to study further; * the upgrading and revitalising of lower primary school teachers currently in service; * the obtaining of a 3-year diploma through an inverted '2+2' teacher-training model which will, inter alia, allow the student to obtain 'on the job' training whilst studying on a part-time basis; * a simplified qualifications structure; * the implementation of a 5-year plan for the phasing-in of qualified teachers; * a collaborative strategy with accredited NGOs who will assist with the training of teachers * a modularised curriculum * the establishment of a Resource and Training Centre for teachers. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, 1995.

L'analyse de cycle de vie (ACV), telle qu'elle est pratiquée aujourd'hui, peut conduire à des résultats biaisés. L'utilisation de cet outil s'avère particulièrement sensible dans des cadres réglementaires. En effet, au lieu d'inciter les entreprises à réduire leurs impacts sur l'environnement, les certifications obtenues à partir des ACV risquent de produire un effet contraire : comme elles tendent à récompenser des moyennes industrielles plutôt que les résultats propres aux entreprises, elles peuvent détruire toute incitation pour ces dernières à agir correctement sur le plan environnemental. Dans cette thèse nous proposons des éléments de réflexion en matière de gestion pouvant être utiles à l'évolution de l'ACV à partir d'une étude de cas sur l'évaluation de la soutenabilité d'une filière biodiesel issu d'huile de palme brésilienne dans le cadre de la Directive EnR. Trois principaux résultats émergent de ce travail doctoral. Le premier se rapporte à la réflexion que nous menons sur l'évaluation de la durabilité imposée par la Directive EnR. Le deuxième renvoie aux réponses concrètes sur l'évaluation de la filière biodiesel évaluée à l'égard de la Directive, notamment par rapport aux émissions de gaz à effet de serre. Le troisième résultat concerne l'identification des besoins latents en matière d'évaluation de qualité des données d'ACV

Coaches in Canada are trained through the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) administered by The Coaching Association of Canada. The NCCP is the national standard and recently shifted its educational emphasis from the transfer of knowledge to the development of coaching competency. As a result, coaches are required to demonstrate competency in a specified sport and level prior to being awarded a coaching certification. The purpose of this study was to establish validity and reliability of an NCCP coaching competency assessment. Gymnastics Canada agreed to have their Community Sport coaching competency instrument tested for content validity, face validity, inter-rater reliability and intra-rater reliability. Their original assessment instrument was revised during content validity testing based on recommendations from five coaching context experts. Removing six items, adding one item, and revising four items for clarity modified the original 48-item instrument. An assessment of overall competency was added to the instrument to rate the coach as Beginner, Competent, Proficient, or Expert. Three certified coaches confirmed the face validity of the modified instrument. Reliability tests were conducted on the ratings provided by ten experts who observed a coach’s lesson on video. The result was a moderate level of inter-rater reliability, displayed by an Agreement Coefficient (AC1) of 0.43 and a Percent of Agreement (PA) of 72%. Nine of the ten raters assessed the coach’s performance as Competent, Proficient or Expert, while one of the ten rated the coach as Beginner. After a repeat observation of the same coaching performance, the intra-rater reliability of five raters resulted in agreement levels of Moderate (AC1 = 0.45; PA = 67%), Substantial (AC1 = 0.75, 0.77; PA = 81%, 89%), and Almost Perfect (AC1 = 0.87, 0.82; PA = 93%, 90%). The modified instrument has content and face validity. However, its usefulness is impacted by variability in rater preferences. The inter-rater reliability results attest to concerns about the consistency in assessment of a coaching certificate for Community Sport Artistic Gymnastics coaches. Suggestions to improve the reliability of the instrument include training raters to classify the coach’s competency on a standardized scale of sport-specific expertise.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to ascertain the perceptions of entry-level certified athletic trainers on the helpfulness of proposed standards for athletic training clinical education settings.Design and Setting: A 22 item questionnaire was developed based on 12 proposed standards for clinical education settings. The questionnaire was mailed to entry-level certified athletic trainers (those certified in 1997). The individuals in this sample were chosen due to their relatively recent education and work experience. Subjects were asked to rate the helpfulness of each standard. Using an open-ended question, subjects were also asked to identify the aspects of clinical education which prepared them best to fulfill employment responsibilities.Measurements: Frequency counts were computed for the degree of compliance with each clinical education setting standard, time devoted to clinical experience (hours and semesters) and clinical experience settings. Mean scores were computed from respondents' perceptions of helpfulness of clinical education setting standards and the role of clinical education in professional development of these athletic trainers. Chisquare with a significance level set at .05 was used to compare demographic and experience information to the perceived helpfulness of each clinical education setting standard.Results: Compliance with the proposed standards was high (mean = 89.9%, range 75.2% - 99.2%). Standards were perceived as "very helpful" (mean = 4.17/5.0). Only standards # 8 Single Coordinator of Clinical Education (mean = 3.58) and # 11 Professionally Active Clinical Instructor (mean = 3.96) were perceived as less than "very helpful.” Chi-square analyses revealed very little interaction between independent demographic variables and preparation for employment as an entry-level athletic trainer.Conclusions: The proposed standards for selecting and evaluating athletic training clinical education setting are helpful and should be considered for implementation in an athletic training education program. The standards can be used by all students and program administrators to evaluate a current or potential clinical education setting.Key Words: compliance, selection, evaluation, clinical experience, clinical instruction / Department of Educational Leadership

本研究以2002年至2012年台灣主併公司為上市公司的併購案件為樣本，探討合理性意見書評價內容和主併公司短期股價影響及併購後綜效之關聯性。研究結果發現，於意見書揭露日時，若獨立專家評估價格高於雙方約定交易價格愈多時，即評價溢酬愈大，或是評價報告由高聲譽獨立專家所出具，主併公司會有正向的累積異常報酬率；且在此情況下，主併公司併購後綜效亦會愈大。故本研究認為，合理性意見書中的評價資訊，於揭露時具有訊號發射效果，可以幫助外部股東及投資人判斷交易是否對其有利，降低內外資訊不對稱，同時亦具有認證併購後公司會產生合併綜效之功能。因此，併購時獨立專家所出具之合理性意見書確實具有資訊意涵。 / This study analyses the relation between target firm valuations disclosed in the fairness opinions and acquiring firm performances by using the samples of Taiwanese listed company in M&A transaction between 2002 and 2012. We find that the stock price reactions to the public disclosure of fairness opinions are positively related to the difference between target firms valuations contained in the fairness opinion and the merger offer price and the reputation of independent experts. Under these conditions, the synergy in the M&A may be higher than others. Therefore, we suggest that the information contained in the fairness opinions can not only reduce information asymmetry between management and stockholders, but also certify that the M&A transaction will produce synergy. We conclude that fairness opinion does contain useful information to market participants.

The increasing demand for electrical energy to bring about development and social change has brought about renewed interest in the use of nuclear power as one of the sources of electrical energy. The nuclear power industry has had a few decades of low activity due to previous accidents which turned the public perception against the use of nuclear as an electrical power source. The low activity has resulted in the shortage of nuclear skills as the skill previously available is now aged and about to reach retirement. The South African Government has recently announced its commitment to having nuclear in the energy mix. This will require construction of new nuclear power plants. This research arises from the need to understand whether the required human capital will be available, looking specifically at technician level in the nuclear energy industry. The main research goal of the study was to find what training and development initiatives are currently being used in industry and what needs to be in place to ensure that the industry is ready for the nuclear new-build. The researcher than proposes training and development initiatives that should be put in place to meet the demand that will be created by the nuclear new-build. / Thesis (MSc (Engineering Sciences in Nuclear Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The increasing demand for electrical energy to bring about development and social change has brought about renewed interest in the use of nuclear power as one of the sources of electrical energy. The nuclear power industry has had a few decades of low activity due to previous accidents which turned the public perception against the use of nuclear as an electrical power source. The low activity has resulted in the shortage of nuclear skills as the skill previously available is now aged and about to reach retirement. The South African Government has recently announced its commitment to having nuclear in the energy mix. This will require construction of new nuclear power plants. This research arises from the need to understand whether the required human capital will be available, looking specifically at technician level in the nuclear energy industry. The main research goal of the study was to find what training and development initiatives are currently being used in industry and what needs to be in place to ensure that the industry is ready for the nuclear new-build. The researcher than proposes training and development initiatives that should be put in place to meet the demand that will be created by the nuclear new-build. / Thesis (MSc (Engineering Sciences in Nuclear Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

La tesi di dottorato fornisce una ricostruzione, sotto il profilo civilistico, del ruolo di standard e certificazioni nel mercato agro-alimentare europeo. Nel primo capitolo viene ricostruita la natura delle certificazioni e la loro evoluzione da strumento di competitività delle imprese a mezzo per colmare le asimmetrie informative presenti nel mercato. Nel secondo capitolo viene analizzato il “Sistema Qualità”, nel quale sono coinvolti quattro attori fondamentali: l’ente di normazione, l’ente di accreditamento, il certificatore e, infine, l’impresa che richiede la certificazione, e sono analizzate le varie problematiche sottese al suo funzionamento. Nella terza parte si è indagata la natura giuridica del contratto di certificazione di qualità e la rilevanza delle certificazioni di qualità sotto il profilo civilistico. Infine, nella quarta parte, si sono analizzate le conseguenze giuridiche scaturenti da una certificazione non veritiera, con particolare riguardo alla possibilità o meno di configurare una responsabilità extra-contrattuale del certificatore per i danni causati a consumatori e terzi in generale a seguito del rilascio di una certificazione non veritiera. / The dissertation examines the role of certification marks in the european food- sector. The first chapter analyses the function of certification and their development from instruments of competitive advantages within firms to a tool for fulfilling the information asymmetry between business and consumer. The second chapter deals with the “Quality System”: a system which involves four players: the standardization body, the accreditation body, the certification body and, finally, the producer seeking the certification. The third chapter analyses the certification activity and the obligations of the parties of the contract. The last chapter deals with the tort liability of certification bodies.

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This study evaluated Department of Foreign Language Education students&amp / #65533 / perceptions on technology competence in regard to National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) developed by International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), in Middle East Technical University, in Ankara, Turkey. The NETS-T&amp / #65533 / s six sub standards -technology operations and concepts / planning and designing learning environments and experiences / teaching, learning, and the curriculum / assessment and evaluation / productivity and professional practice / social, ethical, legal, and human issues- were investigated in the study. 383 students participated in the study. 103 of them were freshmen, 98 of them were sophomores, 96 of them were juniors, and 86 of them were seniors. Besides, 96 of them were males, while 287 of them were females. This study was designed as a cross-sectional survey study. In order to collect the data, a survey, consisted of 44 Likert type, five point scale items, was developed by the researcher. The study results show that except for &amp / #65533 / technology operations and concepts&amp / #65533 / for which male students&amp / #65533 / perceptions were higher than female students&amp / #65533 / perceptions there was no significant difference between male and female students. There was no significant difference in &amp / #65533 / technology operations and concepts&amp / #65533 / across grade levels. There were no significant differences between freshmen&amp / #65533 / s and sophomores&amp / #65533 / perceptions for all of the sub-standards. In general, juniors&amp / #65533 / perceptions on the competence of NETS-T were higher than freshmen&amp / #65533 / s and sophomores&amp / #65533 / perceptions, and seniors&amp / #65533 / perceptions were higher than all of the other grade levels&amp / #65533 / perceptions. As a result, the findings of the study indicated that students&amp / #65533 / perceptions related with their competencies in the NETS_T needs to be increased.