Over the course of the last few decades, work-life has changed and now includes a higher degree of instability and insecurity. This thesis takes this change as its starting point, aiming to understand the ways in which individuals manage involuntary work-life transitions at the workplace, in terms of learning. The study has a longitudinal focus, based on interviews of twelve people who used to work at the same plant. Seven of the interviewees were laid off during the financial crisis of 2008, five of them were not laid off, but continued their employment throughout the crisis. Theoretically, the approach is a combination of a pragmatic learning perspective, through which learning is seen as a kind of problem-solving activity, and a narrative perspective that provides tools with which to view stories as carriers of meaning. The results show that insecurity is accepted by many as a non-negotiable part of work-life. Work-life is in many aspects affected by market globalisation the discourse of employability, where the individual bears the responsibility for their personal work-life. By preparing as best they can to be financially, socially and employability-wise well equipped, the interviewees do what they can to minimize the negative effects of the bad times that are bound to come at some point. Across time, many of the interviewees are moving between different approaches to dealing with the insecurity of work-life. In the process of making meaningful strategic choices, they are involved in learning. Experience and future plans play a role in which choices are made, and thereby also form the route that is constructed by each individual as they navigate between different points in their work-life. The final discussion aims at pointing out the effects an insecure work-life impose on people. People tell stories of acceptance towards the instability of work-life, not because they find work-life satisfying or well-functioning, but because they need to. In order to match the qualifications of an employable individual, they cannot oppose it. In doing so they would automatically define themselves as not so flexible, not so employable. This is a result of learning in work-life transitions.

From April to June 2016 a new and exclusively virtual teaching format – the international STEM1 Summer School – was provided at the University of Mining and Technology in Freiberg. The paper presents the approach, didactical design, and results of evaluation. The international STEM Summer School was developed and tested within the project „Holistic International STEMs - Learning with case studies and real-life industry experiences“. The aim was to better prepare STEM students for challenges in the current professional world that are characterized by in-ternationalization and digitalization. The project offers some ideas on how to teach the currently re-quired skills and competencies by industry in higher education. The conceptualization of the project was made possible with funding from the Donors\' Association for the Promotion of Humanities and Sciences in Germany2. The exclusively virtual collaboration is due to the different geographical distances and locations of the participating students, which generates specific challenges. On the one hand, technical conditions at the particular places of residence have an impact on virtual collaboration. On the other hand, cultural, lingual, and occupational differences, as well as the differing media literacy, play an important role. In addition, the setting of objectives and provision of incentives is decisive for the shared virtual work. The results of the first round of the international STEM Summer School indicate possible solution strategies based on the three areas of media use, interaction, and task orientation. During the Summer School, students from ten different countries solved real-life job case studies in small interdisciplinary teams. The exchange took place with the help of various e-learning tools like the virtual classroom, wiki, forum and e-portfolio. The participants were mentored by national and international industry partners, STEM professors, and e-tutors. After nine weeks work in intercultural teams they presented their results and learning outcomes during a web conference. The following article focusses on the evaluation results as well as selected insights and challenges.

The purpose of the research was to determine whether personality and measures of ability would significantly predict job performance of call centre operators in a South African communications company. The Customer Contact Styles Questionnaire (CCSQ7.2), the Basic Checking (CP7.1) ability test and the Audio Checking (CP8.1) ability test were completed by operators as the predictors. Supervisors completed the Customer Contact Competency Inventory (CCCI) for 140 operators as a measure of job performance. Performance statistics were obtained for the sample as additional criterion data. Correlations and multiple regression analysis revealed statistically significant small to moderate correlations between the criteria and the predictors. The research was conducted from a concurrent validity perspective. Further research from a predictive validity perspective is suggested in order to substantiate the findings and to improve the generalisability thereof. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)

University education is ideally expected to significantly expand higher education capabilities among students. Yet, if left unchecked, university education processes can under-equip students in terms of higher education capabilities. In the last one and a half decades, public university education in Uganda has been rapidly growing in terms of student enrolment and course completion. However, the higher education capability levels among students and consequently new graduates (2001-2010) have apparently been declining, especially in terms of practical reason, sociality and participation, learning dispositions, and science and technology. The current study analyses why the new graduates of public universities in Uganda are seemingly deficient in higher education capabilities. Data for analysis were mainly collected from 221 stakeholders of two public universities, namely Makerere University and Mbarara University. The analysis focused on respondents’ perceptions of the three sub-variables of university education, namely curriculum content, teaching processes, and learning processes. Through regression analysis, it was established that these sub-variables jointly predict higher education capability expansion among students in Uganda by 81.2%. Meanwhile, results from qualitative analyses suggest that the curriculum content of public university education is at an acceptable standard and, therefore, a minor cause of higher education capability deficiency among students. However, the teaching processes are perceived as ineffective since lecturers mainly use non-participatory approaches, teach fewer sessions than timetabled, and engage ‘liberal’ quality assurance measures that are open to abuse. Moreover, the learning approaches of some students seem to be surface in nature and the students’ levels of research learning and practice are low. Hence, the study conclusions suggest that low levels of higher education capabilities among students or new graduates in Uganda are largely due to ineffective teaching and learning processes at the two public universities studied. Consequently, the study recommends that, in a bid to enhance higher education capability expansion among students, public universities should focus on improving teaching processes and learning processes, particularly on staff pedagogical skills, commitment, quality controls, and reducing the number of students enrolled in most university courses. / Development Studies / D. Litt et Phil. (Development Studies)

This study investigated whether skills development learning programmes specifically internship programme in the public service sector are effective in improving interns’ emotional intelligence competences. A convenience sample of 66 interns was obtained. The interns, two peers and a mentor assessed the intern’s emotional intelligence competencies twice, at the beginning and towards the end of the internship programme with the aid the 360° Emotional and Social Intelligence Inventory (ESCI). A total of 264 participants completed the inventory. Mean competency ratings were compared to determine if there were differences between the first and the second assessments. There were statistically significant differences for Organisational Awareness, Adaptability, Influence, Teamwork, Empathy, Emotional Self Awareness, Conflict Management and Inspirational Leadership. No statistically significant differences were found in the overall development of emotional intelligence based on gender. However, female interns improved more in Emotional Self-Awareness while males improved more in Inspirational Leadership and Coaching. Skills development internship learning programme in the public service appear to be effective in furthering interns’ emotional intelligence competencies at work. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology with Specialisation in Research Consultation)

This thesis aims to find out what is the real employability of graduates of training, retraining and other courses funded by the European Social Fund and Operational Programme Human Resources and Employment in the labor market in the South Bohemian Region. There is analyzed the development of the labor market in the South Bohemian Region and its districts during the Programming Period 2007 ? 2013. There are also described individual projects OP HRE, were held or are in progress in the South Bohemian Region, and is also analyzed their specific benefit to the job seekers in the labor market.

A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar criticamente o processo de participação social na gestão das ações das políticas públicas de empregabilidade de pessoas com deficiência, as PcD, em um município da região serrana do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Dentre estas políticas, cabe destaque para a Lei no 8.213/91 (BRASIL, 1991), conhecida como Lei de Reserva de Cotas, que estabelece fração percentual mínima de contratação de pessoas com deficiência para empresas com mais de cem empregados, assim como a Lei 7.853 (BRASIL, 1989), que estabelece normas gerais dos direitos das pessoas com deficiência e, em especial, as normas relativas à acessibilidade. Estas leis se constituem em políticas públicas no processo de inclusão da diversidade no ambiente de trabalho e servirão como parâmetro avaliativo da análise proposta pela pesquisa. Para condução metodológica desta pesquisa, realizou-se análise de relatos verbais de conselheiros quanto à inserção do Conselho Municipal das PcD na gestão de políticas públicas voltadas a este segmento. A justificativa para o desenvolvimento deste projeto consiste no fato da participação social se constituir em um princípio organizativo da gestão pública somado ao reconhecimento da temática pessoas com deficiência e trabalho como tópico polêmico e relevante para discussão e verificação. Os resultados da análise das ações do citado Conselho na gestão das políticas públicas de empregabilidade para as PcD apontaram defasagem do processo de inserção destas pessoas nos ambientes de trabalho, a ineficácia/inexistência das ações de políticas públicas específicas a esta área e a participação social incipiente de PcD na gestão das políticas públicas que garantem seus direitos ao trabalho, no município investigado. Espera-se que estas constatações contribuam para a adoção de concepções e práticas de participação social mais críticas e potentes na promoção de empregabilidade da PcD. / This research aims to analyze the process of social participation in the management of the public policies actions for employability of people with disabilities, in an inland city of Rio de Janeiro State. Among these policies, particularly Law number 8.213/91 (BRAZIL, 1991), known as Quota Law, which establishes minimum fraction of hiring people with disabilities for companies with more than 100 employees, as well as the Law number 7.853 (BRAZIL, 1989) laying down general rules on rights of people with disabilities and, in particular, standards on accessibility. These laws are public policies in the process of diversity inclusion in dataplace and it will serve as a parameter to the analysis proposed by the search. It was used as methodology the analysis of verbal reports of advisers regarding the insertion of the Municipal Council of PcD in the management of public policies geared to this segment. The justification for the development of this project consists in fact of social participation constitutes an principle of public management added to recognition of thematic "people with disabilities and work" as controversial and relevant topic for discussion and verification. The results of the analysis of the actions of the above mentioned Council in the management of public policies for employability for PcD, pointed out to lag insertion process of these people in work environments, the ineffectiveness/lack of specific public policy actions in this area and the incipient social participation of PcD in the management of public policies that guarantee their rights at work. It is hoped that these findings contribute to adoption of conceptions and practices of social participation more critical and powerful in promoting employability.

Quels sont les mécanismes motivationnels et cognitifs qui soutiennent les stratégies de recherche d'emploi mises en œuvre par les diplômés du supérieur ? Telle est la question qui fonde les analyses effectuées dans cette thèse. Les développements y relatifs s'articulent sur trois niveaux imbriqués. Le premier examine la relation entre les dimensions mises en évidence par la théorie sociale cognitive de la carrière (TSCC) (Lent, Hackett et Brown, 1994), et la performance en recherche d'emploi. Le second a pour objectif d'introduire les stratégies d'autorégulation (STARE) en vue d'analyser dans quelle mesure elles peuvent médiatiser la relation entre le sentiment d'efficacité personnelle (SEP), l'objectif professionnel (OPRO), le projet professionnel (PPRO), les difficultés perçues (DIFF) et la performance. Enfin, ces deux premiers niveaux d'analyse se justifient par le besoin d'appréhender les mécanismes motivationnels et cognitifs auxquels se greffent les facteurs contextuels et sous-tendent les dynamiques de recherche d'emploi. La configuration actuelle du marché du travail rend de plus en plus saillante une évidence : le processus d'insertion professionnel n'est pas linéaire et, même à parcours de formation égal, les diplômés ne sont pas égaux face aux difficultés marquant l'accès à l'emploi. En s'appuyant sur un échantillon de 50 curriculum vitae (CV) de demandeurs d'emploi (étude 1), deux échantillons de 410 salariés (étude 2) et 384 sans emploi (étude 3), tous diplômés du supérieur, cette recherche conduite au Cameroun et en France montre d'une part que les variables d'intention ou les attentes de résultats et le sentiment d'efficacité personnelle sont de bons prédicteurs de performance, conformément à la littérature internationale sur la TSCC. D'autre part, l'examen des liens entre les dimensions suscitées et la performance en recherche d'emploi, par le biais de médiations simples, multiples et modérées, montre que les stratégies d'autorégulation introduites dans le modèle TSCC constituent un médiateur significatif de l'effet de l'ensemble des variables sur la réussite des salariés, de l'objectif professionnel et du projet professionnel sur le devenir des sans emploi, et du sentiment d'efficacité personnelle uniquement lorsqu'on procède à une analyse différenciée selon le sexe. En conclusion, les résultats suggèrent que contrairement aux logiques et parcours de recherche d'emploi traditionnels établis, la configuration actuelle du marché du travail impulserait de nouvelles formes d'organisation et d'ajustement chez les acteurs qui y évoluent. / What are the motivational and cognitive mechanisms that support job search strategies implemented by the graduates? This question is the base of the analyses carried out in this thesis work. The related developments are based on three nested levels. The first one examines the relationship between dimensions highlighted by the social cognitive theory of career (TSCC) (Lent, Brown and Hackett, 1994), and performance in job search. The second objective introduce self-regulation strategies (STARE) in order to analyze to what extent they can mediate the relationship between self-efficacy (SEP), career objective (OPRO), professional project (PPRO), perceived difficulties (DIFF) and performance. Finally, the first two levels of analysis are justified by the need to understand the motivational and cognitive mechanisms associated to contextual factors and underly dynamics of job search. The current labour market setup increases the relevance of obviousness: professional insertion process is not linear and even with same training courses, graduates are not equals face to difficulties regarding employment access. Based on a sample of 50 curricula vitae (CV) of job seekers (Study 1), two samples of 410 employees (study 2) and 384 job seekers (study 3), all of them graduates, the research carried out both in Cameroon and France shows on one side that the variables of intent or outcome expectations and self-efficacy are good predictors of performance, in accordance with the international literature on the TSCC. On the other side, relationship analysis between these dimensions and performance aroused in job search through simple, multiple and moderate mediations, shows that self-regulation strategies introduced in the TSCC model constitute a significant mediator of the effect of all variables on the employees success, the professional goal and the professional project on the future of job seekers, and of self-efficacy solely when performing an analysis differentiated by gender. To end with, the results suggest that contrary to established logic and traditional path of job search, the current configuration of the labor market would boost new forms of organization and adjustment among actors who evolve in this sector.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:46:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 4995.pdf: 4780527 bytes, checksum: c05d4de35fd81d9b981819e909074600 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-20 / Since 1950, people with deficiency have been inserted in the job market. From this decade much has been made for inclusion of these people, things like, new laws were created as guarantee of their rights. But in the companies opinion, these laws began to be fulfilled just to avoid penalties, labeling and stigmatizing these people as unable to perform work functions. Actually, the form work of the person with deficiency needs to be conquered by their own effort and designed by the society, by ability and not because the law protects them like charitable way or by percentage of vacancies, which contributed to the spread of stigma. As shown raised some questions: How are been prepared and inserted the people with deficiency in the job market? These people are been qualified adequately to the competitive job market? This Project aims to verify how the people with deficiency are being prepared in the vocational courses and how are been inserted and included in the job market. The sample consisted of three groups of participants: i) six people with disabilities who have completed vocational courses and were inserted in the job market, ii) five teachers of vocational courses, and iii) three representatives of the company. Data collection was through semi-structured interviews and observation records. The instruments underwent a pilot study to check the semantic aspect. The data collection was through semi-structured interviews and observation records. The data treatment occurred through Content Analysis that consists in explaining and systematize the message content and meaning it. According to the results of the study, we can understand that in participating institution, workers with disabilities are currently satisfied with their working conditions and feel fulfilled with activities that develop. The company proved to be committed to fulfilling his social role and tries to include these workers the most appropriate manner. And by teachers of vocational courses, despite some difficulties in teaching-learning process, sought to provide a quality education and adequate to ensure an effective labor insertion of these people. / Desde 1950 as pessoas com deficiência têm sido inseridas no mercado de trabalho. A partir dessa década, muito foi feito para inclusão dessas pessoas, leis foram criadas para que seus direito pudessem ser garantidos. Para as empresas essas leis passaram a ser cumpridas apenas para evitar penalidades previstas pelo não cumprimento delas. Na verdade a forma de trabalho da pessoa com deficiência precisa ser conquistada por seu próprio empenho e concebida pela sociedade, pela competência e não porque a legislação lhe conservou de modo caritativo, percentual de vagas, o que contribuiu para a propagação do estigma. Conforme o exposto surgiu as seguintes questões: Como vem sendo preparadas e inseridas as pessoas com deficiências no mercado de trabalho? Será que estas pessoas estão sendo qualificada adequadamente para enfrentar um mercado competitivo? O presente estudo teve por objetivo verificar como estão sendo preparadas as pessoas com deficiências nos cursos profissionalizantes e como vem ocorrendo sua inserção e inclusão no mercado de trabalho. Esta pesquisa teve um caráter quantitativo e qualitativo, na modalidade exploratória, na medida em que tem a intenção de buscar e averiguar uma situação nova empregabilidade de pessoas com deficiência, a partir dos centros de formação profissional. A amostra foi composta por três grupos de participantes: i) seis pessoas com deficiência que concluíram cursos profissionalizantes e foram inseridos no mercado de trabalho; ii) cinco docentes de cursos profissionalizantes; e iii) três representantes da empresa. A coleta de dados se deu por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas e dos registros de observação. Os instrumentos foram submetidos a um estudo piloto para verificar o aspecto semântico. O tratamento dos dados ocorreu por meio da Análise do Conteúdo, que consiste em explicar e sistematizar o conteúdo da mensagem e o significado dele. De acordo com os resultados obtidos pelo estudo, pode-se compreender que na instituição participante, os trabalhadores com deficiência atualmente encontram-se satisfeitos com suas condições de trabalho e sentem-se realizados com as atividades que desenvolvem. A empresa mostrou-se empenhada em cumprir seu papel social e tenta fazer a inclusão desses trabalhadores da maneira mais adequada. E por parte dos docentes dos cursos profissionalizantes, apesar de algumas dificuldades encontradas no processo ensino-aprendizagem, buscaram oferecer um ensino de qualidade e adequado que garanta uma efetiva inserção laboral dessas pessoas.

A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar criticamente o processo de participação social na gestão das ações das políticas públicas de empregabilidade de pessoas com deficiência, as PcD, em um município da região serrana do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Dentre estas políticas, cabe destaque para a Lei no 8.213/91 (BRASIL, 1991), conhecida como Lei de Reserva de Cotas, que estabelece fração percentual mínima de contratação de pessoas com deficiência para empresas com mais de cem empregados, assim como a Lei 7.853 (BRASIL, 1989), que estabelece normas gerais dos direitos das pessoas com deficiência e, em especial, as normas relativas à acessibilidade. Estas leis se constituem em políticas públicas no processo de inclusão da diversidade no ambiente de trabalho e servirão como parâmetro avaliativo da análise proposta pela pesquisa. Para condução metodológica desta pesquisa, realizou-se análise de relatos verbais de conselheiros quanto à inserção do Conselho Municipal das PcD na gestão de políticas públicas voltadas a este segmento. A justificativa para o desenvolvimento deste projeto consiste no fato da participação social se constituir em um princípio organizativo da gestão pública somado ao reconhecimento da temática pessoas com deficiência e trabalho como tópico polêmico e relevante para discussão e verificação. Os resultados da análise das ações do citado Conselho na gestão das políticas públicas de empregabilidade para as PcD apontaram defasagem do processo de inserção destas pessoas nos ambientes de trabalho, a ineficácia/inexistência das ações de políticas públicas específicas a esta área e a participação social incipiente de PcD na gestão das políticas públicas que garantem seus direitos ao trabalho, no município investigado. Espera-se que estas constatações contribuam para a adoção de concepções e práticas de participação social mais críticas e potentes na promoção de empregabilidade da PcD. / This research aims to analyze the process of social participation in the management of the public policies actions for employability of people with disabilities, in an inland city of Rio de Janeiro State. Among these policies, particularly Law number 8.213/91 (BRAZIL, 1991), known as Quota Law, which establishes minimum fraction of hiring people with disabilities for companies with more than 100 employees, as well as the Law number 7.853 (BRAZIL, 1989) laying down general rules on rights of people with disabilities and, in particular, standards on accessibility. These laws are public policies in the process of diversity inclusion in dataplace and it will serve as a parameter to the analysis proposed by the search. It was used as methodology the analysis of verbal reports of advisers regarding the insertion of the Municipal Council of PcD in the management of public policies geared to this segment. The justification for the development of this project consists in fact of social participation constitutes an principle of public management added to recognition of thematic "people with disabilities and work" as controversial and relevant topic for discussion and verification. The results of the analysis of the actions of the above mentioned Council in the management of public policies for employability for PcD, pointed out to lag insertion process of these people in work environments, the ineffectiveness/lack of specific public policy actions in this area and the incipient social participation of PcD in the management of public policies that guarantee their rights at work. It is hoped that these findings contribute to adoption of conceptions and practices of social participation more critical and powerful in promoting employability.