This research focuses on the academic programs at the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm (the Farm). The Farm is a centre for sustainability learning and research, providing a working model of sustainable food systems with which to engage students, faculty and community. The Farm is situated within the global context of a dominant industrial food paradigm that is demonstrated to be a major contributor to the social and ecological crises the world now faces. The Farm is further situated within the context of a dominant education paradigm that provides most students with knowledge that is disconnected from social and ecological realities, leading to the misuse of knowledge and to the exacerbation of global crises. The purpose of this research is to explore the contributions that the Farm’s academic programs provide toward advancing sustainability learning from the perspective of program participants, including myself. The research methodology was guided by participatory approaches to research. Qualitative methods were employed, focusing primarily on surveys and semi-structured interviews with program participants. I have also been an involved participant in a diversity of programs at the Farm from April 2004 – December 2008. The results of the research suggest that program participants value the ability to engage with their subject matter, not only on an abstract/theoretical level, but also on practical and affective levels. Participants feel that UBC is lacking in programs that allow students to engage physically and emotionally with their learning. Students feel their knowledge will be better recalled and more likely to be useful if they care about what they are learning, if they can engage with it in a real world context, and if they have some ownership and responsibility for what they are learning. Further, program participants feel that the Farm’s academic programs would benefit from providing more theoretical context and connection to their other academic work, from additions and improvements to Farm infrastructure and resources, and from additional human resources support. This research project was site specific. Nevertheless, it connects with and complements work being done at dozens of universities, colleges and student farms around the world. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

M.A. / The primary aim of the study is to scrutinize the effect of a goal directed psychotherapeutic focus on the client’s childhood experiences, on the therapeutic process, through the narrative analysis of a psychotherapy session. A goal directed therapeutic focus on childhood experiences is defined as any therapeutic approach that considers a focus on the client’s childhood as a prerequisite for change in the present. The study postulates that ‘n goal directed therapeutic focus on childhood experiences is imbedded in a modernistic framework and therefore relies on a set of modernistic principles that could collectively have an undesired effect on therapeutic conversation and consequently on the unfolding of narratives in the session. This criticism is grounded in a social constructionist-narrative epistemology which emphasises the collaborative exploration of alternative narratives in psychotherapy and thus the “agendaless” and collaborative nature of therapeutic conversation. From this perspective a goal directed therapeutic focus on the client’s childood experiences is considered to be counterproductive to the therapeutic process, as the therapist can loose touch with the client’s idiosyncratic metanarratives and agendas for therapy. In the case of incongruence between the therapist’s and the client’s metanarratives and agendas for therapy, a process can unfold in which the two members of the conversation attempts to persuade each other to accept their points of view. This battle of wills is viewed as therapeutic resistance which could constrain the client’s narratives in the therapy session (Anderson & Goolishian, 1992 ; Shawver, 2002). Therapeutic resistance, from the perspective of this study is seen as a process which unfolds as the result of the therapist’s unwillingness to adjust his/her therapeutic approach or goals to complement the client’s idiosyncratic perspective on reality and unique agendas for therapy, and not as the result of intrapsychic defense mechanisms, as it is seen from a modernist perspective. Therapeutic resistance is thus viewed as the result of the incongruence or clash of metanarratives in the therapy session. This argument leads to the hypothesis of the study: “A goal directed therapeutic focus on the client’s childhood experiences can lead to therapeutic resistance”. This hypothesis was confirmed through the findings of the narrative analysis of the therapy session. The results of the study showed that incongruence existed between the therapist’s and the client’s metanarratives as the client had a future-directed problem solving agenda and the therapist a goal driven, past-directed problem solving agenda, and that this incongruence lead to therapeutic resistance. An alternative hypothesis was presented: “A genuine agendaless interest in the content of the client’s life story can create a context for constructive therapeutic conversation in which the co-construction of alternative stories can occur”. This hypothesis suggests an agendaless focus on the client’s childhood experiences which can only be achieved through the acceptance and the application of social constructionist-narrative principles in therapy. A part of this alternative focus on the client’s past, involves the abandoning of modernistic metanarratives through which psychological problems and solutions are universalised and therapeutic methods are applied as standard procedures. When therapy is approach from an agendaless perspective the client remains in charge of the direction (past, present or future) of the therapeutic conversation and the past is revisited according to the client’s own pace and terms. The first part of the study will involve a discussion on a number of modernistic therapeutic approaches which empasise a goal directed focus on the client’s past and thus view a therapeutic focus on childhood experiences as a prerequisite for change in the present. The discussion will focus on the shared modernistic principles of these theories, which will be identified by the question: “Why do therapists focus on childhood experiences”? These principles and the concerted impact of them on the therapeutic process will then be criticised from a social constructionist-narrative approach. A discussion on the findings of the narrative analysis of the therapy session will conclude the study.

Although the present study identifies several shortcomings regarding the practice of co-operative education, it pioneers the notion that the growing of talent can be enhanced through a co-operative education strategy. The study has attempted to distil the core principles of a phenomenological research design within the greater context of qualitative research. Perspectives of the research subjects are presented as thick descriptions. The literature review indicates the need for the growing of talent in South Africa, against the backdrop of international talent struggles. It points out the need for collaboration between Higher Education and enterprises in growing talent. The study distils the core properties of co-operative education, contextualised within the dysfunctionality of Higher Education in South Africa and the development of Higher Education internationally. / Dr. W.J Schurink

This study aims to define design poetics as a category of design practice set apart from commercial, industrial or market-led design that generates a collection of experimental artefacts which investigate the everyday life of contemporary culture. It is argued that in creating an active interplay between users (human agents) and objects, poetic design involves a different kind of production (which is not about improving the functionality of a product) and alternative forms of "consumption" (which is not about a 'using up' of objects), by developing new practices of living with things. As such it is suggested that design poetics depends on the production developed by consumers as a creative users (postproducers), within unconventional experiential and social scenarios of living. In changing the bilateral relationship object-user poetic design develops objects from the point of view of the user - its activities and models of operation - and this aspect is related to an emotional and experiential evaluation. Thus the study proposes a re-evaluation of objects and users through experiential, narrative and performative criteria in order to understand their various roles and functions. In proposing these particular points of evaluation, poetic objects are distinguished as a particular category of objects together with the practices they engender or support; and within a network of relationships and contexts, as specific sites of interaction.1 In this light, it is shown that poetic design proposes a class of objects that respond to needs beyond the objects' instrumental (functional, practical) power; but to their contribution to life experience, embodying a variety of processes and manifestations. They translate immaterial interactions and make these interrelations visible.

The Hospital Hill is characterised by illegibility,under-utilised space and lack of circulation control. Hospital Hill contains the Medical campuses of the University of Pretoria, as well as the Tshwane District Hospital. The Tshwane District Hospital is in the process of being upgraded to a Regional Hospital. This upgrade has profound implications on spatial organisation within the Hospital Hill Precinct and relationships between institutions and users. This design aims to improve the spatial connectivity between the Tshwane Regional Hospital and the Campuses of the University of Pretoria through the application of a series of open spaces for the benefit of public health. The hypothesis was tested and applied through the following methodology: • Analysis of site specific design indicators • Compilation of a user profile • Literature • Investigation of theories of restorative benefit and the experiential landscape to determine characteristics of an environment that could be beneficial to public health • Precedents and previous studies An open space development framework was compiled for the Hospital Hill. The Master Plan area focused specifi cally on the interface between the campuses of the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane Regional Hospital. Dr. Savage Plaza was identifi ed as the most important activity node of the Hospital Hill. This area was developed up to Sketch Plan design, applying some of the principles identifi ed in the theory, to argue for the development of open spaces with the potential to benefit public health. The Technical Investigation involved the development of a maintenance strategy for the open spaces. It includes the details of the hydrological systems applied at the Dr. Savage Plaza (stormwater detention feature, erratic fountain). Sreet furniture and edge details were investigated. / Dissertation (ML(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Architecture / unrestricted

This thesis empirically examines the nature of consumer experiences as the result of interactions with components of the fashion store environment. It aims to further understand the consumption experience construct by adopting a multidimensional view of experience and a holistic view of antecedents, with the support of empirical data. A qualitative approach is adopted utilising face to face interviews with 5 practitioners and 20 young fashion consumers. By examining two perspectives a greater insight in to the way in which consumer experiences are created and are consumed can be gained. Data has been compared to establish differences between the way practitioners perceive the consumer experience, and the actual experiences of consumers. In doing so the research identifies several managerial implications which can be used to enhance the creation of experiences to meet the desires and wants of young fashion consumers. Findings suggest several stimuli including product, the physical setting, people, technology and brand message components contribute towards the creation of specific cognitive, emotional, sensory, physical and social experiences in fashion stores. It identifies technology as an important component affecting the consumer experience not yet discussed in existing literature concerning mid-market fashion store environments and proposes further research into this stimulus in a fashion context. Physical experiences in store are a vital element of the fashion store experience. Consumers should be immersed in physical experiences to provide unique and memorable encounters with a retailer that cannot be gained online. Furthermore the physical store should foster the relationship between consumer and consumer in order to create social experiences that engage consumers on more personal levels. In creating immersive and engaging experiences in the physical store retailers can ensure that the store format remains competitive in today’s challenging market.

This investigation sought to discover, identify and describe in-session change episodes in marital Experiential Systemic Therapy (Friesen et al., 1989) through a naturalistic discovery-oriented methodology. This study responds to calls made regarding the need to study complex and intricate processes, such as psychotherapy (Greenberg, 1986), via discovery-oriented methods (Mahrer, 1988). The observational analysis of 40 videotaped-sessions, of three couples, revealed the presence of ten episodes of change. The actions and interactions of the members of the therapeutic system in these episodes were analyzed via the grounded theory method of analysis. This analysis generated a conceptual framework describing the internal structure of change. The resulting conceptual framework consisted of a core category named synergetic shifting. This category refers to an interactional process in which the partners with the assistance of the therapist moved away from rigid, distancing and alienating interactional patterns toward interpersonal flexibility, compassion and affiliation by working through blocks hindering the couples' engagement and intimate connection. Synergetic shifting consists of four client and three therapist categories. Within the progressive nature of synergetic shifting, the client categories were: (1) owning one's part in the relational conflict; (2) couple contacting: restricted and limited; (3) couple working through blocks to intimacy; and (4) couple engaging compassionately. The therapist's actions and interactions were categorized under supporting, transitional and shifting operations. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

The thesis argues that the distribution formats can be significant strategic communication and differentiation tools for luxury brand and that the intangible determinants within the space can provide balancing link between company trying to manage its brand expression and consumers search for the meaningful experiences. The dissertation uses a luxury retail setting, as the highest in distribution hierarchy to analyze these relations. This ensures a level of diversification from mass retail approach. In addition, this brings back to the store as source of value creation and experiences that one should expect from a luxury brand. The aim: To explore conceptually the nature of value creation and how the relationship gets between a retailer and customer translated and communicated by a means of store, also to identify the key determinants for the value creation within the formats while looking at which levels it brings to ability to co - create the experiential value with consumer. Method: The two primary methods used are: in-depth, semi-structured interview with professionals or key informants and field notes in ethnographic context with a sample of 52 international marketing students. The secondary data collection draws upon extensive, relevant and significant academic literature review including books, professional journals, online resources, etc. Findings: The work identified two value drivers: Symbolic Desire and Exclusive Excitement. Excitement and Desire were found to be the main emotions to trigger the consumer within the luxury setting and to translate a product into service or experience of a kind. Second, research identified the two experiential prospects of: Become and Belong. These show all the way the interaction builds and develops to immerse the customers in a branded world and experiences. As a result the thesis suggests two new approaches; Experiential Value Co-Creation and In - Store Typology. Such orientation offers an outline for adjusting the service and mapping the generic groups of luxury consumers. Moreover, in-store experiential typology offers four types of spaces and/or segments within the setting: Expertise, Exclusivize, Aspirational and Popularize.

Experiential learning has been empirically confirmed to enhance performance of project organisations. This research investigates the literature and included field surveys to get insights into the barriers (and by default any enablers) relating to project related knowledge transfer in project orientated organisations. It seeks to explore the reality and perceptions related to experiential learning within an international group of organisations to confirm expected obstacles to learning.The research follows a quantitative approach in the form of a field survey and includes qualitative insights gained from a secondary data review. It seeks to test the validity of propositions articulating suspected barriers to learning as it is experienced or perceived to exist within the selected sample of organisations.This study is unique as, although it build on previous research, it introduces a new dimension in that experiential learning aspects as experienced by international organisations are measured simultaneously with conditions within related local organisations. The results confirmed a similar outcome between the two groups in terms of the research propositions and must be used by project orientated organisations to create management awareness in terms of the reality of specific barriers so as to guide implementation of suitable corrective measures. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

In the current knowledge era, learners, as the future of our world, require both knowledge and skills and a moral sense and values. The world is beset with diverse and evolving challenges fundamentally related to Life Sciences, which require certain skills and virtues that are not emphasised by current educational practice in schools. My quest to discover the ultimate consequences of learners’ Life Science learning within the context of the existing prescribed Life Sciences Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) was prompted by my personal experience as a high school learner and my desire to see learners have rewarding and relevant educational experiences. Although the CAPS of the South African Department of Basic Education aims at providing a link between Life Sciences in the classroom and its everyday application in learners’ lives, in practice it does not seem to achieve its purpose of equipping Life Science learners to be independent problem solvers of life challenges, as stated in its aims. This qualitative case study explored learners’ perceptions of Life Sciences as an essential factor for everyday life and scientific human challenge. The perceptions of 12 purposively selected learners from Grades 8–12 were explored by using semi-structured interviews, open-ended questionnaires, non-participant and quasi-participant observations, elicited materials, and field observation as data collecting instruments. The transcripts of the semi-structured interviews and open-ended questionnaires were analysed using constant comparative analysis while data from the other instruments were used in corroborating or refuting the data from the semi-structured and open-ended questionnaire. The findings indicate that learners perceive their life science learning as only for academic progress with just a few indicating a desire to pursue a science-based university degree. Furthermore, learners did not see Life Sciences as useful for application in their day-today life. However, with the learning of human anatomy, the participants assumed, somehow, that it would be necessary to understand how their body works, but not to the extent of applying the knowledge in their daily lives and decision making. In this regard the Life Sciences curriculum fails to prepare learners to acquire the attributes required to successfully function in the 21st century. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Humanities Education / PhD / Unrestricted