Since 1994, South African education system has been undergoing continuous transformation which had an impact on the quality of teaching and learning. There appeared to be a huge underperformance in the High School and FET College learners which for many years forced Universities to embark on bridging courses in order to enroll new students. Furthermore, a misalignment of college’s National Technical Diploma (NATED) programmes that did not afford college graduates an opportunity to register with Universities nor Universities of Technology brought about the questioning of the quality of teaching and learning in the FET College sector. Tabling the unified quality improvement plans in education in South Africa, the Education Ministry introduced an integrated approach to measure teaching and learning with the view of identifying improvement strategies. However, the implementation of this integrated tool called the Integrated Quality Management System had educators and managers attaching ambiguous meanings to the system. The IQMS instrument is meant to be a dependable quality assurance tool to measure and improve the quality of teaching and learning. The ambiguity lies with educators and managers referring to IQMS as a means to acquire 1% pay progression and the possible return of the old apartheid systems’ inspectorate. This research study was promulgated by a concern on the effectiveness and efficiency of implementing the IQMS instrument to measure the quality of teaching and learning in South African FET sector. In exploring literature on the concept of quality teaching and learning in the FET sector in South Africa, the researcher identified that similar trends of integrating quality management systems in education are being followed globally. The difference to the South African system is the attachment of the salary progression of 1% as an incentive to performance. In view of the introduction of the new system of education and training, the researcher realized that ‘short cut’ processes were followed in preparing educators to be able to offer new education programmes using the OBE system of teaching and learning. That appeared to be another shortfall to the adequacy of implementing IQMS as a quality assurance instrument to measure the quality of teaching and learning in the FET sector in South Africa. In addition, there appeared to be conflicting trends in the FET sector where the same sector provided curriculum 2005 programmes for schools which differed from college programmes offering National Certificate Vocational {NC(V)}. Both sectors were expected to use IQMS as a tool to measure the quality of teaching and learning with the view of enhancing improvement thereof. Furthermore, the end product of the FET sector for both schools and colleges is the Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC). Unfortunately, it was difficult for the education department to achieve its objectives because time frames to prepare educators and the critical element of providing adequate human resources for the implementation of IQMS could not be met through Umalusi the national quality assurance body for the sector. The FET Sector which is expected to deliver Education and Training to produce quality students for HE sector and the world of work is faced with shortfalls of quality delivery. The driving force of this research study was to explore the dependability and adequacy of implementing IQMS as a quality assurance instrument to effectively and efficiently measure the quality of teaching and learning to meet the expected outcomes. It is in this regard that the researcher through empirical evidence realized that IQMS did not have theoretical grounding hence there are no principles, procedures or processes that govern the implementation of this very important system. In addition, the empirical evidence from the qualitative study proved that quality delivery of teaching and learning has been monitored using diverse assessment practices. A variety of assessment tools like the TQM and QMS which exist in FET Colleges with the summative IQMS in FET Schools of which the three practices are premised around Quality Management. Quality Management refers to a process where quality delivery in a school, college or any other organization is systematically managed to maintain the competence of the organization. It is in this regard that TQM, QMS and IQMS refer to Quality Assurance Practices in any organization that is geared to effective and efficient client relations. / Teacher Education / D.Ed. (Education Management)

The aim of the present work was to design and fabricate all purpose, positioning-tolerant and efficient interconnects between single-mode fibers and integrated waveguides out of polymers. The developed structures are part of the optical packaging of integrated optical chips. Integrated optics have gathered tremendous interest throughout recent years from research as well as from the industry, and most likely the demand will further grow in the future. Today’s trend is to establish optical data communication not only in far-distance transmission but also in end-user or so called fiber-to-home configurations, or, in the near future, also on board or even chip level. In addition, integrated optical sensors are gaining more and more importance. In the future, lab-on-a-chip systems may be able to simplify and accelerate analysis methods within health care or allow for a continuous monitoring of almost any environmental variable. All these applications call for robust optical packaging solutions. Many integrated optical chips are using a silicon-on-insulator design. Technologies which were originally intended for the manufacturing of integrated circuits can be utilized for the fabrication of such silicon-on-insulator chips. Point-of-care testing, which is a considerable part of bio-sensing, in some cases only allows the use of disposable transducer elements. The fabrication of these transducers, also including almost all other system parts, may be possible using polymers. Alternative fabrication methods like nanoimprint lithography can be applied for the patterning of polymers. With these, the extension of already known working principles or even entirely new device architectures become feasible for mass production. The direct patterning of polymers by means of nanoimprint was used to fabricate interconnects for integrated waveguides. In contrast to conventional lithography approaches, where a patterned resist layer is used as a masking layer for subsequent process steps, direct patterning allows the immediate use of the structures as functional elements. Firstly, nanoimprint allows diffraction-unlimited patterning with nanometer resolutions as well as the replication of complex three-dimensional patterns. These unique properties were used within this work to pattern shallow gratings atop an integrated waveguide within only one single manufacturing step. The gratings are used as coupling elements and can be utilized either to couple light from external elements to the chip or vice versa. Considerations regarding the optical effects on single-mode polymer waveguides as well as grating couplers were obtained from simulation. They are specific to the chosen design and the used polymer and cannot be found elsewhere so far. Compared to similar designs and fabrication strategies proposed in literature, the ones followed here allow for a higher efficiency. The dimensions and process windows obtained from simulation did serve as a basis for the subsequent fabrication of the grating couplers. All steps which are necessary to turn the calculated design into reality, ranging from master fabrication, to working mold cast and imprint, are shown in detail. The use of a working mold strategy is of crucial importance for the fabrication process and is discussed in detail. The use of a working mold preserves a costly master and further allows for a cost-efficient production. Parameters which are relevant for the production as well as for the final polymer patterns were analyzed and discussed. On the basis of the obtained data, a process optimization was performed. The optical characterization was also part of the presented work. A comparison with the results obtained from simulation is included and additional effects were revealed. Most of them may be subject to further improvement in future designs. In summary, the present work contributes to the field of optical packaging. It shows a viable route for the design and fabrication of interconnects of single-mode polymer waveguides. The presented design can be used as a building block which can be placed at almost any positions within an integrated optical chip. The fabrication method includes a minimum number of process steps and is still able to increase performance compared to similar approaches. Moreover, all process steps allow for scaling and are potential candidates for mass production.

Since 1994, South African education system has been undergoing continuous transformation which had an impact on the quality of teaching and learning. There appeared to be a huge underperformance in the High School and FET College learners which for many years forced Universities to embark on bridging courses in order to enroll new students. Furthermore, a misalignment of college’s National Technical Diploma (NATED) programmes that did not afford college graduates an opportunity to register with Universities nor Universities of Technology brought about the questioning of the quality of teaching and learning in the FET College sector. Tabling the unified quality improvement plans in education in South Africa, the Education Ministry introduced an integrated approach to measure teaching and learning with the view of identifying improvement strategies. However, the implementation of this integrated tool called the Integrated Quality Management System had educators and managers attaching ambiguous meanings to the system. The IQMS instrument is meant to be a dependable quality assurance tool to measure and improve the quality of teaching and learning. The ambiguity lies with educators and managers referring to IQMS as a means to acquire 1% pay progression and the possible return of the old apartheid systems’ inspectorate. This research study was promulgated by a concern on the effectiveness and efficiency of implementing the IQMS instrument to measure the quality of teaching and learning in South African FET sector. In exploring literature on the concept of quality teaching and learning in the FET sector in South Africa, the researcher identified that similar trends of integrating quality management systems in education are being followed globally. The difference to the South African system is the attachment of the salary progression of 1% as an incentive to performance. In view of the introduction of the new system of education and training, the researcher realized that ‘short cut’ processes were followed in preparing educators to be able to offer new education programmes using the OBE system of teaching and learning. That appeared to be another shortfall to the adequacy of implementing IQMS as a quality assurance instrument to measure the quality of teaching and learning in the FET sector in South Africa. In addition, there appeared to be conflicting trends in the FET sector where the same sector provided curriculum 2005 programmes for schools which differed from college programmes offering National Certificate Vocational {NC(V)}. Both sectors were expected to use IQMS as a tool to measure the quality of teaching and learning with the view of enhancing improvement thereof. Furthermore, the end product of the FET sector for both schools and colleges is the Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC). Unfortunately, it was difficult for the education department to achieve its objectives because time frames to prepare educators and the critical element of providing adequate human resources for the implementation of IQMS could not be met through Umalusi the national quality assurance body for the sector. The FET Sector which is expected to deliver Education and Training to produce quality students for HE sector and the world of work is faced with shortfalls of quality delivery. The driving force of this research study was to explore the dependability and adequacy of implementing IQMS as a quality assurance instrument to effectively and efficiently measure the quality of teaching and learning to meet the expected outcomes. It is in this regard that the researcher through empirical evidence realized that IQMS did not have theoretical grounding hence there are no principles, procedures or processes that govern the implementation of this very important system. In addition, the empirical evidence from the qualitative study proved that quality delivery of teaching and learning has been monitored using diverse assessment practices. A variety of assessment tools like the TQM and QMS which exist in FET Colleges with the summative IQMS in FET Schools of which the three practices are premised around Quality Management. Quality Management refers to a process where quality delivery in a school, college or any other organization is systematically managed to maintain the competence of the organization. It is in this regard that TQM, QMS and IQMS refer to Quality Assurance Practices in any organization that is geared to effective and efficient client relations. / Teacher Education / D.Ed. (Education Management)

THESIS submitted in fulfilment of the degree DOCTOR OF EDUCATION in the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2013 / The aim of this research is to present recommendations for knowledge and practice relations between Further Education and Training (FET) colleges and Civil Engineering (CE) workplaces, and to present a work-integrated learning (WIL) model that could assist with the preparation of CE students for the workplace. Recently, FET colleges have been under the spotlight in terms of student preparedness for the CE workplace. Many questions have been posed by students studying at FET colleges and by CE workplace supervisors in respect of whether the current CE curriculum adequately prepares students for the workplace, or whether the curriculum has become obsolete in terms of knowledge and practice relations. The CE industry is of the opinion that students are insufficiently prepared in terms of skills and knowledge. In the light of this uncertainty, I researched the learning taking place at FET colleges and CE workplaces. I examined similarities and differences in the learning environment of the students. The research provides a theoretical overview of Activity Theory (AT) and its principle of contradictions. The lens of AT and its contradictions provide a versatile tool to enquire into various aspects of WIL, taking into account individual and institutional perspectives, as well as changes over time. Activity Theory and its principle of contradictions provide insights into how transformation may occur within Activity Systems (ASs) in a CE context. The study was conducted over a number of years with participants from three ASs, namely, the classroom, workshop/college yard and workplace. During the research, this study proposed a conceptual framework, rooted in AT, and substantiated by empirical evidence, for describing and analysing the learning taking place in the FET college sector and within the CE workplace environment. The analysis focuses on the perceptions of learning taking place in the ASs. Results reveal a knowledge and practice divide, mediated by AS elements of mediating artefacts, object, subject, division of labour, community and rules. Through a particular focus on the contradictions of the elements of an AS which occur, the objective for this study was to determine ‘knowledge and practice relations’. The components of knowledge and practice are extremely isolated, and by bringing the argument and the empirical findings together, the findings propose:  Links between knowledge(‘the classroom’) and practice(‘the workplace’) The surfacing of the disconnect between knowledge and practice between the FET college sector and the CE workplace supports the idea of establishing links between these two sectors. This collaboration could be the turning point in better preparing students for the workplace.  Policy formulation and implementation The need for policy review to enhance the integration of knowledge and practice relations in the sector has become apparent. Colleges are expected to undergo a radical transformation and to make major contributions to policy. However, these institutions are new and fragile, and are based on historically weak predecessors. Much of the reform process is oblivious of the connections between college and workplace. The research has established that both CE industries and FET colleges should ensure that they increase their involvement with and participation in the provision of adequately preparing students for the workplace in the Western Cape Province.

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) separates ions on the basis of ion-neutral collision cross-sections (CCS, [omega]), which are determined by the geometry or conformation of the ions. The size-based IM separation can be extended to distinguish conformers that have different shapes in cases where shape differences influence the accessible surface area of the molecule. In recent years, IM has rapidly evolved as a structural characterization technique, which has applied on various structural biology problems. In this work, IMS is combined with molecular dynamics simulation (MDS), specially the integrated tempering sampling molecular dynamics simulation (ITS-MDS) to explore the gas-phase conformation space of two molecular systems (i) protonated tryptophan zipper 1 (trpzip1) ions and its six derivatives (ii) alkali metal ion (Na, K and Cs) adducts of gramicidin A (GA). The structural distributions obtained from ITS-MDS are compared well with results obtained from matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-ion mobility-mass spectrometry (MALDI-IM-MS) for trpzip 1 series and electrospray ionization-ion mobility-mass spectrometry (ESI-IM-MS) for alkali metal ion adducts of GA. Furthermore, the solvent dependence on conformational preferences of the GA dimer is investigated using a combination of mass spectrometry techniques, viz. ESI-IM-MS and hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX)-MS, and MDS. The IM experiments reveal three distinct gramicidin A species, detected as the sodium ion adduct ions, [2GA + 2Na]²⁺, and the equilibrium abundances of the dimer ions varies with solvent polarity. The solution phase conformations are assigned as the parallel and anti-parallel [beta]-helix dimer, and the anti-parallel dimer is the preferred conformation in non-polar organic solvent. The calculated CCS profiles by ITS-MDS agree very well with the experimentally measured CCS profiles, which underscore the utility of the method for determining candidate structures as well as the relative abundances of the candidate structures. The benefit of combining ion mobility measurements with solution-phase H/D exchange is allowing identifications and detail analysis of the solution-phase subgroup conformations, which cannot be uncovered by one method alone.

Thesis (MTech (Human Resource Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011 / As global and national markets become more competitive, businesses are forced to become more adaptable and the public service is by no means exempt from this phenomenon. Owing to a dynamic and ever-changing work environment, it is necessary for public servant employees to continuously update their knowledge and skills. However, in most organisations, the impact of training and development programmes are undermined. The value placed on increasing knowledge and skills is limited to attending a training programme. As a result, the newly acquired information and competencies are very seldom transferred from the classroom to the workplace and without a definite increase in performance and in service delivery; the contribution of actual learning is questionable. This research study therefore uses the Integrated Integrated Human Resource Administration and Persal (IHRAP) Programme (presented by the Western Cape Provincial Training Institute) to gauge the importance of post training evaluation and the benefits that can be derived from it, both for the department and the employee. In addition, the study evaluates whether the participants of the training programme are able to apply concepts and techniques learned in the classroom. It focuses specifically on human resource employees employed within the Provincial Government of the Western Cape, who is responsible for performing a number of different human resource functions. A survey was conducted amongst the participants of the IHRAP programme using a research questionnaire. After the results of the survey were collected and analysed, the researcher was able to determine where there were gaps in the post training evaluation process. Several recommendations are made to bridge these gaps and in doing so, enable the training programme to have a greater impact on the participants and in the workplace. In addition to evaluating the IHRAP programme, the need for continuous improvement in skills will always be essential, but departments must create the opportunities for participants to exercise these acquired skills effectively.

MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies

The aim of the present work was to design and fabricate all purpose, positioning-tolerant and efficient interconnects between single-mode fibers and integrated waveguides out of polymers. The developed structures are part of the optical packaging of integrated optical chips. Integrated optics have gathered tremendous interest throughout recent years from research as well as from the industry, and most likely the demand will further grow in the future. Today’s trend is to establish optical data communication not only in far-distance transmission but also in end-user or so called fiber-to-home configurations, or, in the near future, also on board or even chip level. In addition, integrated optical sensors are gaining more and more importance. In the future, lab-on-a-chip systems may be able to simplify and accelerate analysis methods within health care or allow for a continuous monitoring of almost any environmental variable. All these applications call for robust optical packaging solutions. Many integrated optical chips are using a silicon-on-insulator design. Technologies which were originally intended for the manufacturing of integrated circuits can be utilized for the fabrication of such silicon-on-insulator chips. Point-of-care testing, which is a considerable part of bio-sensing, in some cases only allows the use of disposable transducer elements. The fabrication of these transducers, also including almost all other system parts, may be possible using polymers. Alternative fabrication methods like nanoimprint lithography can be applied for the patterning of polymers. With these, the extension of already known working principles or even entirely new device architectures become feasible for mass production. The direct patterning of polymers by means of nanoimprint was used to fabricate interconnects for integrated waveguides. In contrast to conventional lithography approaches, where a patterned resist layer is used as a masking layer for subsequent process steps, direct patterning allows the immediate use of the structures as functional elements. Firstly, nanoimprint allows diffraction-unlimited patterning with nanometer resolutions as well as the replication of complex three-dimensional patterns. These unique properties were used within this work to pattern shallow gratings atop an integrated waveguide within only one single manufacturing step. The gratings are used as coupling elements and can be utilized either to couple light from external elements to the chip or vice versa. Considerations regarding the optical effects on single-mode polymer waveguides as well as grating couplers were obtained from simulation. They are specific to the chosen design and the used polymer and cannot be found elsewhere so far. Compared to similar designs and fabrication strategies proposed in literature, the ones followed here allow for a higher efficiency. The dimensions and process windows obtained from simulation did serve as a basis for the subsequent fabrication of the grating couplers. All steps which are necessary to turn the calculated design into reality, ranging from master fabrication, to working mold cast and imprint, are shown in detail. The use of a working mold strategy is of crucial importance for the fabrication process and is discussed in detail. The use of a working mold preserves a costly master and further allows for a cost-efficient production. Parameters which are relevant for the production as well as for the final polymer patterns were analyzed and discussed. On the basis of the obtained data, a process optimization was performed. The optical characterization was also part of the presented work. A comparison with the results obtained from simulation is included and additional effects were revealed. Most of them may be subject to further improvement in future designs. In summary, the present work contributes to the field of optical packaging. It shows a viable route for the design and fabrication of interconnects of single-mode polymer waveguides. The presented design can be used as a building block which can be placed at almost any positions within an integrated optical chip. The fabrication method includes a minimum number of process steps and is still able to increase performance compared to similar approaches. Moreover, all process steps allow for scaling and are potential candidates for mass production.

A set of documents, called the Index of Model Activities of the Integrated Rescue System Forces was compiled to improve coordination of these forces. The Index describes organizational procedures of the IRS forces during ten cases of emergency. However, are members of basic IRS forces familiar with these documents? Are the IRS workers aware of procedures and needs of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) staff? The objective of this thesis is to survey views and findings of the IRS workers regarding the above mentioned issues, evaluate possibilities to improve knowledge of these issues.

O setor de saneamento bÃsico no Brasil tem passado por grandes transformaÃÃes em sua estrutura nos Ãltimos anos, requerendo das Companhias Estaduais de Saneamento BÃsico (CESB) uma completa mudanÃa na forma de atuar, principalmente, pelas novas possibilidades trazidas pela Lei n 11.107/05 que em termos prÃticos, permite a participaÃÃo de empresas privadas na gestÃo dos serviÃos de saneamento, por meio de licitaÃÃo, aumentado a concorrÃncia no setor, e, sobretudo, pelas exigÃncias impostas pela Lei n 11.445/07, comumente conhecida como âMarco RegulatÃrio do Saneamentoâ, que dentre outros pontos preconiza a universalizaÃÃo dos serviÃos prestados; a eficiÃncia e sustentabilidade econÃmica e a transparÃncia das aÃÃes, baseada em sistemas de informaÃÃes e processos decisÃrios institucionalizados. Diante desse cenÃrio, as CESBs vÃm adotando diversas prÃticas de gestÃo e vÃrias ferramentas de TI a fim de melhorar os seus resultados. A adoÃÃo de sistemas ERP â Enterprise Resourse Planning como alternativa para maximizar os resultados das organizaÃÃes tÃm se tornado uma prÃtica em vÃrias empresas no mundo, chegando Ãs empresas brasileiras a partir de meados da dÃcada de 90, inclusive nas Companhias Estaduais de Saneamento no inÃcio dos anos 2000. InÃmeros sÃo os benefÃcios associados à utilizaÃÃo dos sistemas ERP nas organizaÃÃes. Todavia, diversos problemas sÃo relacionados ao uso desses sistemas, que impendem o alcance dos resultados inicialmente esperados e prometidos. Nesse contexto, esse trabalho tem como objetivo principal analisar como as Companhias Estaduais de Saneamento BÃsico tÃm utilizado os sistemas ERP na sua gestÃo. Do ponto de vista de seus objetivos, a presente pesquisa caracteriza-se como exploratÃrio-descritiva. Quanto à abordagem do problema pode ser classificada como quantitativa e qualitativa. No tocante aos procedimentos adotados, pode-se citar a realizaÃÃo de pesquisa bibliogrÃfica e a aplicaÃÃo de um survey combinado com a realizaÃÃo de um estudo de caso em uma das 27 companhias estaduais de saneamento bÃsico do Brasil. A partir da anÃlise dos resultados constatou-se que os sistemas ERP nÃo sÃo utilizados por todos os nÃveis hierÃrquicos das CESBs e nÃo contempla os seus processos principais e parte dos processos de apoio. Em relaÃÃo ao propÃsito a que se destina a sua utilizaÃÃo, verificou-se que sÃo utilizados com maior freqÃÃncia para dar apoio Ãs operaÃÃes e processos da organizaÃÃo e apoio à tomada de decisÃo empresarial, pelo nÃvel tÃtico e operacional das CESBs. Em relaÃÃo aos processos que dÃo suporte, ficou evidenciado que se concentram basicamente em parte dos processos de apoio, quais sejam: Financeiro; ContÃbil; LogÃstico e GestÃo de Pessoas. Constatou-se que as funcionalidades existentes se aderem a tais processos, e, mesmo com essas restriÃÃes verificadas a avaliaÃÃo sobre as melhorias proporcionadas à gestÃo dos processos transacionais das CESBs foi positiva, evidenciando uma congruÃncia com a atual realidade das Companhias Estaduais de Saneamento BÃsico. / Brazilian basic sanitation has undergone profound structural changes over the past years, requiring basic sanitation state agencies (CESB) to revise their working procedures. Thus, law #11.107/05 introduced new practical possibilities, such as the participation of private enterprises in the management of sanitation services by way of public bidding, thereby increasing competition in the sector, while law #11.445/07, commonly referred to as the âbasic sanitation regulatory frameworkâ, calls for the universalization of public services, economic efficiency and sustainability and administrative transparency, based on information systems and institutionalized decision-making processes. In response, CESBs have adopted a range of management practices and IT tools in order to improve their results. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems designed to maximize results are increasingly popular among companies around the world, and have been in use by private enterprises in Brazil since the mid-nineties and even by CESBs since the beginning of the current decade. ERP is associated not only with numerous advantages, but also with a number of problems compromising expected results. The main objective of the present study is to analyze the use of ERP systems by CESBs. Based on a review of the literature and a survey in combination with a case study of one of the 27 CESBs operating in Brazil, the study is exploratory and descriptive with regard to the objective, and quantitative-qualitative in its approach. The results show that ERP systems are not used at all hierarchical levels of the CESBs and do not cover the main processes and some of the support processes. ERP systems are most often used to support organizational operations and processes and executive tactical and operational decision-making processes. The main support processes include financial administration, accounting, logistics and staff management. Existing functionalities were found to ad here to these processes and, even in the presence of such restrictions, the assessment of the improvement to the management of CESB transactional processes was positive, revealing a congruence with the present reality of the basic sanitation state agencies.