Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management) --Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / A key focus of higher education institutions is to produce employable graduates. Many institutions now include a work-integrated learning (WIL) component in their courses, as research has shown that students exposed to WIL have a greater opportunity of finding employment after graduation. WIL has formed an integral part of the hospitality management qualifications offered by the Cape Town Hotel School (CTHS) for many years. From January 2019, the current hospitality management qualification is being replaced with a new qualification, the Diploma in Hospitality and Hotel Management (Dip.H&HM), in alignment with the new Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF). The WIL component will remain in the new qualification under a new name, Hotel Practice, and it is necessary that the learning outcomes of the WIL subject are aligned with the day-to-day work of the WIL placement. Furthermore, it is crucial that the WIL component is assessed adequately to meet the learning outcomes of both the subject and the qualification as a whole. There has been some concern that students exposed to WIL for the qualification as presently offered are not being adequately assessed in terms of the learning outcomes of the courses they are taking. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate the assessment procedures for CTHS students recently on WIL placements, and from the results, determine the most appropriate assessment tools and procedures for the assessment of the new qualification, in order to meet the learning outcomes of the subject, Hotel Practice. The population for this study were the CTHS students registered for the WIL subject in 2017, as well as the hospitality establishments in the Western Cape that accepted the CTHS students for their WIL placements. Because the population of students was small, the sample group was the whole population. The sampling technique used for selection of hospitality establishments depended on which establishments that accepted students for WIL placements in 2017. The data was collected via an online survey and all responses were anonymous. The findings showed that only half of the student sample felt that they were assessed adequately, and that a new assessment process to encourage formative assessment feedback is required. A revised assessment form would encourage the monitoring of the learning outcomes for the WIL subject. The study therefore recommends the implementation of a new assessment form for the Dip. H&HM.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / In South Africa the government, industry and communities have placed pressure on Higher Education Institutions to deal with general skills shortage: whilst they prepare students to meet requirements and standards which industry expects. Universities of Technology are empowering students with theory, combining it with practical experience to generate graduates that are ready to meet industry’s demands and professional expectations. However, it has not proved easy to place students.The researcher has attempted to establish from companies the reasons the challenges and barriers posed during the Work Integrated Learning process. Work-Integrated Learning is important in bridging the gap between graduate attributes and industry expectations and the significant role that it plays in bridging the gap between graduate attributes and industry expectations. The workplace is a source of learning for students.The feedback from industry supervisors should be seen as an integral part of assessing students’ readiness for the world of work. The purpose of this research is to ascertain how managers deal with students during the Work-Integrated Learning period.The results of the study create foundation for future developments and research. It will also inform the development of an effective and innovative Work-Integrated Learning curriculum that is more supportive academically, and that encourages professional excellence and produces work-ready graduates. A qualitative research method was used in the study. Fifteen financial services managers from different companies were individually interviewed. Ethical approval for the study was sought and obtained. The results demonstrated that the managers experienced mixed feelings regarding their experience when supervising students in their respective companies. A closer examination of the managers’ responses, however, revealed that they had high expectations of students that participated in WIL, coupled with the quality of training provided by the Higher Education Institutions. These expectations include the following: effective time management, especially when reporting for work; regular attendance and team work, good and effective communication between company and the hosting university; and for WIL students to work independently, were all regarded as important.Although some managers had positive experiences of supervising students, there were those that expressed concerns about students’ levels of work readiness, as some indicated that students lacked self-confidence, while others raised concerns about students’ attitudes and lack of work ethics. It is recommended that the WIL programme should include activities that will enhance students’ confidence, independence and work-effectiveness. A collaborative effort should be made between various stakeholders that are involved in WIL: The need to give feedback to students on a full range of skills and competencies in the workplace, has not been extensively studied; hence an attempt by the researcher to establish some of the industry managers’ experiences in this regard.

This thesis is a phenomenological study of the experiences of students engaged in a work-based learning (WBL) degree in the community service (CS) sector in NSW. The degree – a graduate diploma in social sciences (GDSS) - was developed through an industry/community partnership in response to identified workforce development needs. Positioned as a novel pedagogy, WBL is presented in the broad context, before the specifics of the research are outlined. The thesis presents, first, a political economy of higher education (HE) and the CS sector, followed by a description of the defining principles of WBL, characteristics of practice and issues arising from these things. The phenomenological study of the student experiences is supported by a case study of the GDSS. The research is approached from an ontological and epistemological framework informed by critical theory and critical hermeneutics. The methods draw substantially on data collection through semi-structured interviews and supporting data collected form other sources. The analysis of the data is presented as five major data stories – access, self and study, work-based learning and organisation, managing learning and outcomes. In discussing the data the thesis argues that the students are strongly positioned as non-traditional students with an orientation towards issues of access to HE, as well as a concern with critical practice. The concluding comments of the thesis consider the context of work-based learning under systemic influences of the political economy of the day, notably neo-liberalism and the application of a techno-economic framing of the knowledge economy. Some final comments are offered on the practice of WBL in the CS sector, including the defence of knowledge production as a public good and the life world/system dynamics of partnership. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Employers often lament that many American workers are not qualified for present and future jobs due to changing skills requirements and deficiencies of schools. In 1991, the Secretary of Labor's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) report recommended educators use work sites to help students achieve foundation skills and workplace competencies. Through cooperative work experiences (CWE), many community college professional/technical programs place students in actual work situations as part of program requirements. These experiences enable students to apply classroom learning while engaged in productive work related to their specialties. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe social and learning strategies male community college students use to maximize learning from cooperative work experiences. Three conditions influence these strategies. 1. Every work experience situation is unique. Numerous environmental and personality variables affect the quality of the work experience. 2. Trainers are employees paid for the work they do. Productive work is their first priority; training is secondary. 3. Work site trainers are knowledgeable and highly skilled but may not be trained to teach. Based on in-depth interviews with male students and trainers/supervisors, this study found that (a) a candid and respectful relationship between student and trainer must exist before a trainer will share fully his expertise and knowledge with the student and students have primary responsibility for establishing and maintaining this relationship, (b) the effort a trainer is willing to expend on training reflects his perception of a student's eagerness to excel and willingness to work hard, and (c) students have primary responsibility for managing their own learning during work experiences. Students use four primary learning strategies to maximize their learning during a CWE: (a) applying cognitive apprenticeship processes, (b) solving problems, (c) recognizing and pursuing incidental learning opportunities, and (d) practicing technical skills. Although the subjects of this study represent only a segment of professional/ technical programs, the findings may be useful for preparing other program students for their work experiences. / Graduation date: 2001

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 466-484). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Eleven years into the South African democracy there are still huge challenges facing South African public schools, especially with regard to the notions of equity and redress. Increasingly historically advantaged and disadvantaged South African schools are entering into partnerships in an attempts to address the challenges facing them. This study focused on one such a partnership between two primary schools in an attempt to ascertain whether partnerships can in fact improve the situation.

This study is intended as a contribution to the debate and quality assurance activity which in South Africa is following the South African Qualifications Authority's recommendations that better quality co-operative education work experience be provided for higher education students. This study focuses on the perceptions and experiences of a cohort of Durban Institute of Technology students involved in co-operative education work programmes. Through a process of random sampling twenty students each were selected from the faculties of Arts, Commerce, Engineering Science & Built Environment and Health Sciences. The students comprised both male and female students in various years of study. Questionnaires articulating the research enquiry as well as the purpose of the study and questions to be answered for the study were mailed individually to each selected student. Forty six of the total selected sample of students returned completed questionnaires. The instrument comprised open and closed ended questions. With the aid of a statistical database programme the data was analysed. Findings of the study indicated that students' perceptions and experiences vary from positive to negative. Issues of racial discrimination, inadequate or no salaries and lack of support from mentors and lecturers emerged as concerns articulated by many students. On the contrary students perceived themselves as the greatest beneficiaries of the work programmes. Students also noted the relevance and value of the work programmes in developing the students' and preparing them for the workplace. The recommendations for co-operative education practitioners, in terms of listening to the voices of the students' in this study, is invaluable. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of Durban-Westville, 2004.

Eleven years into the South African democracy there are still huge challenges facing South African public schools, especially with regard to the notions of equity and redress. Increasingly historically advantaged and disadvantaged South African schools are entering into partnerships in an attempts to address the challenges facing them. This study focused on one such a partnership between two primary schools in an attempt to ascertain whether partnerships can in fact improve the situation.

Thesis (PhD) -- University of Western Sydney, 2007. / A thesis submitted to the University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, School of Social Sciences, as a requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliography.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-110). Also available on the Internet.