The objective of education authorities worldwide is to enhance teachers’ professional capacities and practices through the supply of quality continuous professional development (CPD) activities. The South African education system has been subjected to many changes during the past two decades which have seriously affected the quality of education provided in schools country wide. Professional development (PD) of teachers has been found to be a key factor in raising standards in South African schools. Although the National Department of Education has identified teacher development as important, very little has transpired in the education system. School leaders should, therefore, take on the responsibility of providing their staff with PD opportunities. To support teachers in special schools and to enhance their professional capacity, the researcher designed, implemented and evaluated a collaborative PD model in six special schools in Gauteng. The aim of the study was to establish the value of the CPD programme on teachers’ learning, learners’ outcomes and whole school change. This multi-phased case study research was positioned within a bigger study conducted by the Gauteng Department of Education and in particular the Early Childhood Development Institute (ECDI). This larger study was based on the fact that most of the burn related accidents in South Africa occur in the 0-4 age group, which served as the rationale for including the fire safety programme in the ECD curriculum. The focus during the research was on the adaptation of fire safety activities and learners and teacher support materials for an inclusive classroom. This research reports on a two year study on the implementation of a CPD model based on collaboration and peer coaching. The theoretical framework for this study links to theories of constructivism, organisational theory of Senge, network and social capital. This research serves as an example of where valuable internal and external networks were formed for the benefit of all involved with the study. During this research theory and practice were successfully integrated for the benefit of the individual, the school and external organisations. / Department of Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

Cette recherche porte sur la présence d'une fondation philanthropique dans l'émergence des nouvelles sciences et technologies dans un pays non hégémonique : le cas de la Fondation Mexique – Etats-Unis pour la Science (FUMEC) dans l'émergence des micro et nanotechnologies au Mexique. Ce travail de recherche part d'une série d'observations des dynamiques du développement de ces technologies émergentes dans ce pays. Lors de ces observations, il a été noté une forte présence de la FUMEC dans ces processus et ceci a attiré l'attention de cette recherche sur les fonctions accomplies par cette fondation. Cette thèse questionne la modélisation des relations des acteurs traditionnellement pris en compte dans les processus des changements technologiques (Etat, université et industrie), car les organismes philanthropiques ont été négligés dans les études sur les changements technologiques. Ce travail propose donc d'élargir l'éventail des acteurs à prendre en compte dans les modèles théoriques de ces études ; il s'agit de prendre en compte les organismes philanthropiques et non gouvernementaux comme des acteurs centraux. Tout au long de ce texte, la thèse montre l'importance de la place et de l'action de la FUMEC dans l'installation des infrastructures, la création de réseaux scientifiques, la formation des ressources humaines, le transfert des connaissances, la commercialisation et la dissémination de la technologie des micro-systèmes au Mexique. L'analyse des fonctions et des actions des organismes philanthropiques dans ces processus ne confirme pas seulement l'importance de tels organismes dans les changements technologiques, mais il signale également leur influence sur les politiques scientifique et technologique dans les pays non hégémoniques / This doctoral thesis deals with the presence of a philanthropic foundation in the emergence of new sciences and technologies in a non-hegemonic country. The case of the United States – Mexico Foundation for Science (FUMEC) in the emergence of micro and nanotechnology in Mexico. This research work, part of a series of observations on the development dynamics of these emerging technologies in this country. During these observations, it has been pointed out a strong presence of the FUMEC in this has attracted the attention of this research on the functions performed by the foundation in these processes. This doctoral thesis questions the modeling of relations actors, traditionally taken into account in the processes of technological change (State, University and Industry), as philanthropic organizations have not been considered in the studies of technological change. This research proposed to extend the range of actors to take into account in theoretical models in these studies. In other words, this thesis proposes to take into account the non-governmental and philanthropic organizations as central players in technological changes. Throughout the text, this work shows the importance of the position and action of the FUMEC in the installation of infrastructure, creation of scientific networks, human resources training, knowledge transfer, commercialization and dissemination of microsystems technology in Mexico. The analysis of the philanthropic organizations functions and actions in these processes not only confirms the importance of these organisms, but also highlights the influence of these organisms in scientific and technological policies in non-hegemonic countries / Esta investigación de la tesis de doctorado trata sobre la presencia de una fundación filantrópica en la emergencia de nuevas ciencias y tecnologías en un país no hegemónico: el caso de la Fundación México – Estados Unidos por la Ciencia(FUMEC) en la emergencia de las micro y Nanotecnologías en México. Este trabajo de investigación, parte de una serie de observaciones de las dinámicas del desarrollo de estas tecnologías emergentes en este país. Durante estasobservaciones, ha sido señalada una fuerte presencia de la FUMEC y esto ha llamado la atención de esta investigación sobre las funciones desempeñadas por esta fundación en estos procesos. Esta tesis doctoral cuestiona la modelización de las relaciones de los actores tradicionalmente tomados en cuenta en los procesos de cambios tecnológicos (Estado, Universidad e Industria), ya que los organismos filantrópicos no han sido considerados. Este trabajo de investigación propone entonces ampliar el abanico de actores a tomar en cuenta en los modelos teóricos en estos estudios. En otras palabras, propone tomar en cuenta los organismos filantrópicos y no gubernamentales como actores centrales en los cambios tecnológicos. A lo largo del texto, la tesis muestra la importancia de la posición y de la acción de la FUMEC en la instalación de infraestructuras, la creación de redes científicas, la formación de recursos humanos, la transferencia de conocimientos, la comercialización y la diseminación de la tecnología de los microsistemas en México. El análisis de las funciones y de las acciones de los organismos filantrópicos en estos procesos no confirma solamente la importancia de este tipo de organismos, sino que también resalta la influencia de estos organismos en las políticas científica y tecnológica en los países no hegemónicos