Protective, as well as punitive legal measures applicable to education, are embedded in various acts. Despite these legal measures, incidences of educator misconduct occur at schools and often go unpunished. The implied situation, namely that the legal measures are not applied correctly, as well as the effect that educator misconduct has on educator security, is a cause for concern. This study is embedded in Education Law as the subject area and aimed to determine the effect of educator misconduct on educator security. Factors contributing to the phenomenon of non-punishment of educator misconduct were also investigated and determined. By utilising a qualitative research design and participants from a specific geographical area, a variety of findings have been made. The most important finding is that particular instances of educator misconduct has a detrimental effect on educator security which manifests on the physical as well as psychological levels of the participants in this study. Educator misconduct not only impacts educator security, but may also lead to a dysfunctional equilibrium, rendering schools ineffective. Some reasons for not applying legal measures include an unacceptably low standard of legal knowledge among employees, union involvement, ubuntu and the tribal hierarchy system. These reasons have, however, been found to be perfunctory. The deep-seated reason can be attributed to the quest for modernisation. Not all societies have fully modernised and rural societies, in particular, are still trapped in a transition period. The expectancy levels for service delivery and professionalism in these societies are low, thus contributing to educators‟ misconduct and unprofessional behaviour. / MEd (Education Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Protective, as well as punitive legal measures applicable to education, are embedded in various acts. Despite these legal measures, incidences of educator misconduct occur at schools and often go unpunished. The implied situation, namely that the legal measures are not applied correctly, as well as the effect that educator misconduct has on educator security, is a cause for concern. This study is embedded in Education Law as the subject area and aimed to determine the effect of educator misconduct on educator security. Factors contributing to the phenomenon of non-punishment of educator misconduct were also investigated and determined. By utilising a qualitative research design and participants from a specific geographical area, a variety of findings have been made. The most important finding is that particular instances of educator misconduct has a detrimental effect on educator security which manifests on the physical as well as psychological levels of the participants in this study. Educator misconduct not only impacts educator security, but may also lead to a dysfunctional equilibrium, rendering schools ineffective. Some reasons for not applying legal measures include an unacceptably low standard of legal knowledge among employees, union involvement, ubuntu and the tribal hierarchy system. These reasons have, however, been found to be perfunctory. The deep-seated reason can be attributed to the quest for modernisation. Not all societies have fully modernised and rural societies, in particular, are still trapped in a transition period. The expectancy levels for service delivery and professionalism in these societies are low, thus contributing to educators‟ misconduct and unprofessional behaviour. / MEd (Education Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This dissertation studies the development of the environmental issue from a discursive perspective. Through an analysis of views on nature and the environment in several NGOs and main political organs, the dissertation tries to explain how a certain view became hegemonic. The analysis pertains to the period between the publication of Silent Spring in 1962 and the introduction of the concept sustainable development by the UN in 1987. From a realistic starting point and with critical discourse analysis (CDA) as its method, the dissertation aims to identify causal powers and mechanisms that have generated and institutionalized the environmental discourse. An analytical model is developed and applied on three levels; a sociolinguistic, institutional, and macrosocial level; which also reflect the methodological progression of the study from description to explanation. The result shows that the discursive practice was hegemonized by a Western view promoting economic growth. This discourse gradually gained ground at the expense of an anti-systemic discourse which posited structural societal changes as the answer to environmental problems. Mechanisms such as the exclusion of some views and actors from common discursive practices were crucial for the process of homogenizing the discourse and developing consensus. Through incorporating that part of the environmental movement which did not fight the dominant economic and political system, the UN turned it into support for its own project, which is part of the process of hegemony. At the same time the environmental objectives of the hegemonic discourse were established in the institutional spheres. The institutionalization of the environmental issue changed the focus from social critique to a question of development and technology, something which helped displace the original critical and partially anti-systemic character of environmental discourse. Through turning the critical and negative account of the situation into a more harmonious and hopeful vision, for instance in terms of sustainable development, a foundation was laid for the later development of ecological modernization. When the hegemonic discourse invested the concept of sustainable development with emphases on progress and economic growth, it encapsulated the environmental issue within the framework of the prevailing social system. / <p>With summary in English and Spanish/Con resumen en inglés y en español</p>

This thesis examines the arguments used by politicians and civil servants to justify the implementation of digitalisation processes to modernise and reform the Norwegian public sector. The research questions are “What arguments are used within the Norwegian public administration to justify the implementation of digitalisation processes?” and “How can these arguments be understood in relation to ideas about modernisation and ongoing reforms within the administration more generally?”. Three studies of digitalisation and reform processes within the Norwegian public administration have been carried out to answer the research questions. The first study is of the Minside public electronic communications service from its inception in 2004 until the service was discontinued in 2012. The second study is an analysis of governmental documents on the role and importance of digitalisation reforms in the Norwegian public sector from the mid-1980’s to today. The third outlines how digitalisation is related to a reform process within the public sector, widely referred to as New Public Management (NPM). The analysis shows that justifications for the implementation of Minside and for digitalisation in the Norwegian public administration are generally focused on the simplification, coordination and rationalisation of the public sector. These justifications are closely connected to key normative ideas of NPM on how and why modernisation and reform processes should be carried out within the public sector in general. Despite high expectations, many digitalisation and electronic service implementations aimed at the population do not achieve the effects expected. This does not, however, appear to have had any impact upon these seemingly deeply entrenched expectations. They continue to be as widely held and as high as they have always been, despite widespread evidence to the contrary. / Hvordan begrunner aktører innenfor norsk offentlig forvaltning digitaliseringsprosesser? Hvordan kan disse begrunnelsene forstås i forhold til ideer om modernisering og pågående reformer innenfor forvaltningen mer generelt? For å svare på disse spørsmålene presenteres tre historier: Først studeres den offentlige digitale tjenesten Minside, deretter undersøkes offentlige dokumenter som omhandler digitaliseringsprosessers rolle og betydning for modernisering i forvaltningen fra 1987 opp til i dag. Til slutt analyseres ideene bak moderniseringen av offentlig sektor, New Public Management, som har hentet ideer og inspirasjon for hvordan offentlig sektor skal organiseres fra privat sektors markedstenkning. Funnene viser at begrunnelsene for digitalisering er å nå mål som forenkling, samordning og effektivisering. Disse målene står i et nært forhold til normative idealer innenfor New Public Management for hvordan reformer og modernisering begrunnes mer generelt. Avhandlingens viser også at forventningene til fordelene ved digitalisering synes å være robuste. Til tross for at en rekke digitaliseringsprosesser ikke har oppnådd de ønskede resultater, så synes ikke de omfattende og sterke forventningene til hva som kan oppnås gjennom digitalisering å avta.

TM-konsult är ett Norrlandsbaserat projekteringsföretag som verkar inom samtliga discipliner i tidiga skeden, projektering och projektledning. För att verka som ett konkurrenskraftigt företag inom projektering i Sverige krävs en rad ingredienser. Några av dessa är moderna arbetsmetoder, moderna verktyg och kompetent personal. TM-konsults kontor i Härnösand är företagets sydligaste säte och det kontor som konkurrerar om jobben i närområdet och Stockholmsregionen. Kontoret är ur en strategisk synpunkt viktigt för företaget. För att säkerställa att konkurrenskraften hos kontoret är i nivå med det som krävs behöver åtgärder tas. Ett kontor som lockar till sig den personal företaget söker är nödvändigt för att kontoret ska växa. Detta examensarbete utreder vilka möjligheter som finns beträffande en modernisering av TM-konsults lokaler i Härnösand. Utredningen pekar på vilka egenskaper som är viktiga för ett väl fungerande kontor. Resultatet av utredningen pekar på att en flytt till nya lokaler skulle innebära att kontoret ses som en mer attraktiv arbetsplats. En flytt skulle också innebära att företaget kan spegla sin vision genom kontoret och att nuvarande personal ges bästa förutsättningar för att leverera konkurrenskraftiga tjänster. / TM Konsult is a Norrland-based architect and engineering company operating in all disciplines in the early stages and project management. To act as a competitive company in the field of projecting in Sweden, a series of ingredients is needed. Some of these are modern working methods, modern tools and skilled personnel. TM Konsults office in Härnösand is the company’s most southern office and the branch competing for the jobs in the local area and Stockholm. The office is from a strategic point of view important for the company. To ensure that the competitiveness of the office is in line with the required, actions needs to be taken. An office that attracts the staff needed is necessary for the office to grow. This thesis investigates the possibilities regarding a modernization of TM Konsults premises in Härnösand. The study points to the characteristics that is important for a well-functioning office. The results of the investigation indicate that a move to new premises would mean that the office is seen as a more attractive workplace. A move would also mean that the company vision can be reflected through the office and that the current staff is given the best conditions to deliver competitive services.

Environmental problems can have an impact on both the ecological and social spheres for people; yet, depending on social status, the impacts might be felt differently. Latin America is a continent deeply affected by environmental conflicts and inequalities, which continues to affect indigenous peoples in the region. In this study, environmental justice was used as an analytical tool to examine news articles from Ecuador's El Universo, Chile's La Tercera, and Bolivia's La Razón through a qualitative content analysis. The study's goal is to contribute to the debate on environmental justice. It will be accomplished by: (1) identifying recurring topics throughout the newspaper columns on ecology, the environment, and indigenous peoples; and (2) analyzing whether these topics can be addressed in the field of environmental justice. Because it has its roots in a social movement, the definition of environmental justice is broad and varied which is further discussed in this study.  Environmental justice is also a growing focal point within the political and academic arena that it's mentioned in this study.  The findings showed that ecological modernization, sustainable development, and attributing monetary value to nature are recurring themes. Mining, seed, and land rights are also mentioned as issues affecting indigenous peoples in the region. Finally, I argue that the results demonstrate that these issues can and should be addressed in environmental justice discussions. In this regard, I believe that environmental justice can be used to connect issues of equality, social injustice, and environmental issues. More research, however, is required before environmental justice can be considered an interdisciplinary field. Finally, I want to emphasize that environmental justice is a topic that can help to develop new perspectives in societies all over the world, motivate actors to act quickly, and connect social inequalities and environmental issues. / Miljöproblem kan idag påverka den ekologiska och den sociala sfären för människor, beroende på social status kan konsekvenserna dock upplevas olika. Latinamerika är en kontinent som är djupt påverkad av miljörättvisekonflikter och ojämlikheter, som till stor del påverkar ursprungsbefolkningar i regionen. I denna studie har miljörättvisa använts som ett analytiskt verktyg för att studera nyhetsinslag av tre tidningar i Latinamerika. Definitionen av miljörättvisa är bredd och varierad eftersom den har sina rötter i en social rörelse. Miljörättvisa är vidare ett växande huvudområde inom den politiska och akademiska arenan som analyseras i studien. Jag har gjort en kvalitativ innehållsanalys av artiklar från El Universo från Ecuador, La Tercera från Chile och La Razón från Bolivia. Syftet med studien är att bidra till debatten om miljörättvisa. Det kommer att göras genom att; (1) redogöra vilka ämnen som är återkommande i tidningarnas kolumner av ekologi, miljön och ursprungsbefolkningar och (2) analysera om dessa ämnen kan behandlas inom temat miljörättvisa. Resultatet visar på att ekologisk modernisering, hållbar utveckling och att ge naturen ett monetärt värde är återkommande ämne. Gruvarbeten, frö- och lands rättigheter pekas även ut som konflikter som påverkar ursprungsbefolkningar i regionen. Slutligen argumenterar jag att resultaten pekar på att dessa ämnen både kan och bör behandlas inom miljörättviseteman. Avslutningsvis menar jag på miljörättvisa kan användas som ett hjälpmedel för att koppla samman frågor om jämlikhet, sociala orättvisor och miljöproblem. Ytligare forskning behövs dock för att miljörättvisa ska anses som ett tvärvetenskapligt område. Avslutningsvis menar jag på att miljörättvisa är ett ämne som kan bidra till att utveckla nya perspektiv i samhällen runt om i världen och få aktörer att agera i en snabbare takt och koppla samman sociala ojämlikheter och miljöproblem. / Los problemas ambientales pueden tener un impacto tanto en el ámbito ecológico como en el social de las personas; sin embargo, dependiendo del estatus social, los impactos pueden sentirse de manera diferente. América Latina es un continente profundamente afectado por conflictos ambientales y desigualdades, que siguen afectando a los pueblos indígenas. En este estudio, la justicia ambiental se utilizó como herramienta analítica para examinar artículos periodísticos de El Universo de Ecuador, La Tercera de Chile y La Razón de Bolivia a través de un análisis de contenido cualitativo. El objetivo del estudio es contribuir al debate sobre la justicia ambiental. Se logrará mediante: (1) la identificación de temas recurrentes en las columnas de los periódicos sobre ecología, medio ambiente y pueblos indígenas; y (2) analizar si estos temas pueden ser abordados en el campo de la justicia ambiental. Debido a que tiene sus raíces en un movimiento social, la definición de justicia ambiental es amplia y variada, lo que se analiza más adelante en este estudio. La justicia ambiental también es un punto focal creciente dentro de la arena política y académica que se menciona en este estudio. Los hallazgos mostraron que la modernización ecológica, el desarrollo sostenible y la atribución de valor monetario a la naturaleza son temas recurrentes. La minería, las semillas y los derechos sobre la tierra también se mencionan como problemas que afectan a los pueblos indígenas de la región. Finalmente, argumento que los resultados demuestran que estos temas pueden y deben abordarse en las discusiones sobre justicia ambiental. En este sentido, creo que la justicia ambiental puede usarse para conectar temas de igualdad, injusticia social y problemas ambientales. Sin embargo, se requiere más investigación académica antes de que la justicia ambiental pueda considerarse un campo interdisciplinario. Finalmente, quiero enfatizar que la justicia ambiental es un tema que puede ayudar a desarrollar nuevas perspectivas en las sociedades alrededor del mundo, motivar a los actores a actuar rápidamente y conectar las desigualdades sociales y los problemas ambientales.

Vattenkraftverk utgör vandringshinder för den akvatiska faunan i vattendrag. Den vandrande fisken hindras från att nå sina lekområden vilket har lett till ett minskat bestånd. Omprövningen som ska ske av vattenkraften i Sverige kommer att ställa högre krav på miljöanpassningar och bevarandet av ekologin. Elbristen i Europa har lett till en paus av omprövningen. Pausen möjliggör för att få ytterligare kunskap kring utförandet av restaureringsarbetet innan implementeringen. Studiens syfte var att identifiera vilka utmaningar och möjligheter som finns med restaureringsarbetet av vattenkraft, både ur ett socialt och ekologiskt perspektiv. Metoden utgjordes av ett flertal intervjuer med personer som för studien hade relevant kunskap. Resultatet visar på att det finns möjligheter och utmaningar inom samarbete, finansiering och restaurering. Slutsatsen av studien var att omprövningen är en grund till förbättrat arbete som bidrar med tydligare riktlinjer för samarbete, en miljöfonden som kan finansiera miljöanpassningarna och att restaureringsåtgärder faktiskt kommer implementeras. Utmaningarna som identifierades var konflikten mellan olika intressen, den varierande effektiviteten av en fiskväg och kostsamma miljöanpassningar. En utrivning ger snabba positiva förändringar och kan också därför anses vara den mest effektiva miljöanpassningen. Slutligen, restaurering av vattendrag är värdefullt för den akvatiska faunan. / Hydroelectric power plants constitute migration barriers for the aquatic fauna in watercourses. The migrating fish are prevented from reaching their spawning areas, which has led to a reduced stock of fish. Omprövningen of hydropower in Sweden will place higher demands on environmental adaptations and the preservation of ecology. The electricity shortage in Europe has led to a pause of omprövningen. The pause makes it possible to gain additional knowledge about the execution of the restoration work before the implementation. The purpose of the study was to identify which challenges and opportunities exist with the restaureation of watercourses with hydropower, both from a social and ecological perspective. The method consisted of several interviews with people who had relevant knowledge for the study. The results showed that there are opportunities and challenges with cooperation, financing and restoration. The conclusion was that the omprövning contributes with possibilities such as clearer guidelines for cooperation, the environmental fund that can finance the environmental adaptations and that restoration measures will actually be implemented. The identified challenges were conflicts between different interests, the varying efficiency of a fish passage and financing the expensive adaptations. A removal produces rapid positive change and can therefore be considered the most effective environmental adaptation. Finally, restoration of watercourses is valuable for the aquatic fauna.