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Social and emotional learning (SEL) programs have become increasingly popular during last 20 years, and have shown to reduce risky behaviors (i.e., substance use), improve communication skills, academic performance, and relationships among students of all ages when implemented in schools (Weissberg, Durlak, Domitrovich, & Gullotta, 2015; Durlak, Weissberg, Dymnicki, Taylor, & Schellinger, 2011). Although the benefits of SEL programs are significant, the issue of implementation fidelity often arises. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of implementation fidelity in the Life Skills Training program (LST) implemented with middle school students of a large South Florida school district. A not-for-profit-organization (NFPO) facilitated the training of teachers who implemented LST within the school district and provided the materials necessary to carry out the program’s lessons. Fidelity was assessed by eight observers from the NFPO by utilizing the Botvin Life Skills Training Fidelity Checklist-Middle School Level 1. Three core elements of implementation fidelity, adherence, quality of delivery, and participant responsiveness, were assessed. The school district was tasked with modifying and conducting the LST Pretest/Posttest Measure to assess student behavior gains. Multilevel modeling was used to assess the effect of individual-level (gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status [SES]) and classroom-level characteristics (adherence, participant responsiveness, and quality of delivery) on student behavior outcomes measured at posttest. Results from this study indicated that on the individual level, students’ race/ethnicity and SES were significantly associated with predicting student behavior gains at posttest. On the classroom level, participant responsiveness was significantly associated with predicting student behavior gains at posttest. The findings from this study make a unique contribution to the literature as it examined frequently overlooked core elements of fidelity such as participant responsiveness and quality of delivery.

The purpose of the study is to explore the current policy and practice of the national and institutional QA system in public HEIs in Ethiopia in order to determine how the quality of teaching and learning might have been enhanced through the QA system. Two organisational theories – contingency and neo-institutional theory – provide a theoretical lens to explain how internal and external organisational environments affect the implementation of QA in the HEIs. The mixed-methods research approach was used in the study, including document analysis, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. Three public universities were chosen as data source. At macro level, the HERQA was also included to examine the effect of the institutional environments on internal quality assurance practices. The findings revealed that there is little evidence of self-initiated quality enhancement activities in the public HEIs. They do not have adequate structures, systems, and written policies to assure quality. The quality assurance efforts were implemented without a clear sense of direction and purposes and therefore lacked effective coordination. The self-evaluations were symbolically took place at the higher levels of the universities and that the results of the evaluations were rarely used in a structured way in improvement of teaching-learning, faculty decision-making and planning processes. It is far from clear that whether the internal quality assurance contributed to the teaching and learning or transformed the student learning experience. It can be concluded that the HERQA’s quality assurance policy and practices seems to be de-coupled from internal initiatives to improve quality in the higher education institutions. It is recommended that HEIs should develop QA policy, mobilise resources for institutional quality improvement, establish full-fledged QA structures at all levels, and furnish the structures with necessary human resources. The HEIs should initiate and undertake effective self-assessment of their activities, own it and work towards achieving their own stated objectives. It is important that the HERQA should develop accreditation procedures, particularly at programme level, for the public HEIs. The HERQA should consider playing more active roles in communicating with HEIs regularly about QA; pay more attention to a follow-up of the audits, the punctual development and delivery of the SEDs. The HERQA should be more independent, have more autonomy and sufficient resources to become a viable professional agency informing the HE sector on the quality of its performance. / Educational Management and Leadership / D. Ed. (Education Management)

The purpose of the study is to explore the current policy and practice of the national and institutional QA system in public HEIs in Ethiopia in order to determine how the quality of teaching and learning might have been enhanced through the QA system. Two organisational theories – contingency and neo-institutional theory – provide a theoretical lens to explain how internal and external organisational environments affect the implementation of QA in the HEIs. The mixed-methods research approach was used in the study, including document analysis, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. Three public universities were chosen as data source. At macro level, the HERQA was also included to examine the effect of the institutional environments on internal quality assurance practices. The findings revealed that there is little evidence of self-initiated quality enhancement activities in the public HEIs. They do not have adequate structures, systems, and written policies to assure quality. The quality assurance efforts were implemented without a clear sense of direction and purposes and therefore lacked effective coordination. The self-evaluations were symbolically took place at the higher levels of the universities and that the results of the evaluations were rarely used in a structured way in improvement of teaching-learning, faculty decision-making and planning processes. It is far from clear that whether the internal quality assurance contributed to the teaching and learning or transformed the student learning experience. It can be concluded that the HERQA’s quality assurance policy and practices seems to be de-coupled from internal initiatives to improve quality in the higher education institutions. It is recommended that HEIs should develop QA policy, mobilise resources for institutional quality improvement, establish full-fledged QA structures at all levels, and furnish the structures with necessary human resources. The HEIs should initiate and undertake effective self-assessment of their activities, own it and work towards achieving their own stated objectives. It is important that the HERQA should develop accreditation procedures, particularly at programme level, for the public HEIs. The HERQA should consider playing more active roles in communicating with HEIs regularly about QA; pay more attention to a follow-up of the audits, the punctual development and delivery of the SEDs. The HERQA should be more independent, have more autonomy and sufficient resources to become a viable professional agency informing the HE sector on the quality of its performance. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

Foi desenvolvida uma proposta de sistemática para implementação de Sistema de Gestão da Segurança de Alimentos com base na Norma ISO 22000:2005 (NBR ISO 22000:2006). Esta sistemática está composta por: A) Mapeamento da documentação; B) Formulários para o Planejamento do sistema APPCC/ HACCP com base na norma ISO 22000, bem como Instrução para seu uso, incluindo tanto as etapas preliminares como os 7 Princípios estabelecidos pelo Codex Alimentarius; C) Documentos para a verificação dos sistemas: Checklist para auditoria de verificação, tanto de adequação como de implementação, e Mapeamento da comunicação. Esta sistemática foi aplicada em uma linha de produtos em pó de empresa real, de porte médio, denominada, ficticiamente, empresa EXEMPLO. Foram dados os treinamentos necessários, adequados ao nível de conhecimento da equipe de segurança de alimentos, e realizadas reuniões de consultoria. Após implementação da sistemática proposta pela equipe da empresa EXEMPLO na linha de produtos escolhida para este fim, foi realizada uma auditoria de verificação para a avaliação da adequação do Sistema de Gestão da Segurança de Alimentos com base na Norma ISO 22000. A equipe foi composta por três auditores, sendo dois deles com formação nível auditor líder de ISO 22000. Concluiu-se que a sistemática é eficaz e adequada, atendendo plenamente às exigências da Norma ISO 22000. Foi, também, incluído no trabalho exemplo prático da documentação básica resultante da implementação na empresa EXEMPLO. A sistemática e modelos desenvolvidos, bem como a visualização de um exemplo prático, podem auxiliar as empresas a diminuir significativamente o tempo de implementação, embora ajustes devam ser feitos para adequação à sua realidade. Os ajustes necessários devem considerar os requisitos regulamentares, dependendo do tipo de produto e do órgão regulatório responsável pela sua regulamentação e fiscalização, bem como requisitos estatutários que possam impactar na sistemática desenvolvida. / A proposed methodology was developed for the implementation of a Food safety management system based on ISO 22000:2005 (NBR ISO 22000:2006). This methodology includes: A) Map of all necessary documents; B) Forms for the HACCP system planning, based on ISO 22000 plus related instruction on how to use these forms, including the preliminary steps and the 7 Principles established by Codex Alimentarius; C) Documents for ISO 22000 system verification: Checklist for system assessment, considering adequacy and implementation and a Map of communication activities. This methodology was applied to one organization of medium size, focusing on one of its product lines. This organization was identified as EXAMPLE Organization. Necessary trainings and consultancy were offered by the author, considering the knowledge level of the food safety team. After implementation was complemented by the EXAMPLE Organization, according to the organization, an assessment was performed by a team composed of 3 auditors, two of them at the ISO 22000 lead auditor level. The main objective of this audit was to evaluate the adequacy of the proposed methodology. The conclusion was that the methodology is effective and adequate to the requirements of the ISO 22000 standard. The main documentation developed was also shown as the result of the implementation. The methodology and forms developed may help organizations to reduce the time involved in the implementation of the ISO 22000 system, even though adjustments to their circumstances shall be made. The necessary adjustments shall consider the kind of the product and the related statutory and regulatory requirements.

Foi desenvolvida uma proposta de sistemática para implementação de Sistema de Gestão da Segurança de Alimentos com base na Norma ISO 22000:2005 (NBR ISO 22000:2006). Esta sistemática está composta por: A) Mapeamento da documentação; B) Formulários para o Planejamento do sistema APPCC/ HACCP com base na norma ISO 22000, bem como Instrução para seu uso, incluindo tanto as etapas preliminares como os 7 Princípios estabelecidos pelo Codex Alimentarius; C) Documentos para a verificação dos sistemas: Checklist para auditoria de verificação, tanto de adequação como de implementação, e Mapeamento da comunicação. Esta sistemática foi aplicada em uma linha de produtos em pó de empresa real, de porte médio, denominada, ficticiamente, empresa EXEMPLO. Foram dados os treinamentos necessários, adequados ao nível de conhecimento da equipe de segurança de alimentos, e realizadas reuniões de consultoria. Após implementação da sistemática proposta pela equipe da empresa EXEMPLO na linha de produtos escolhida para este fim, foi realizada uma auditoria de verificação para a avaliação da adequação do Sistema de Gestão da Segurança de Alimentos com base na Norma ISO 22000. A equipe foi composta por três auditores, sendo dois deles com formação nível auditor líder de ISO 22000. Concluiu-se que a sistemática é eficaz e adequada, atendendo plenamente às exigências da Norma ISO 22000. Foi, também, incluído no trabalho exemplo prático da documentação básica resultante da implementação na empresa EXEMPLO. A sistemática e modelos desenvolvidos, bem como a visualização de um exemplo prático, podem auxiliar as empresas a diminuir significativamente o tempo de implementação, embora ajustes devam ser feitos para adequação à sua realidade. Os ajustes necessários devem considerar os requisitos regulamentares, dependendo do tipo de produto e do órgão regulatório responsável pela sua regulamentação e fiscalização, bem como requisitos estatutários que possam impactar na sistemática desenvolvida. / A proposed methodology was developed for the implementation of a Food safety management system based on ISO 22000:2005 (NBR ISO 22000:2006). This methodology includes: A) Map of all necessary documents; B) Forms for the HACCP system planning, based on ISO 22000 plus related instruction on how to use these forms, including the preliminary steps and the 7 Principles established by Codex Alimentarius; C) Documents for ISO 22000 system verification: Checklist for system assessment, considering adequacy and implementation and a Map of communication activities. This methodology was applied to one organization of medium size, focusing on one of its product lines. This organization was identified as EXAMPLE Organization. Necessary trainings and consultancy were offered by the author, considering the knowledge level of the food safety team. After implementation was complemented by the EXAMPLE Organization, according to the organization, an assessment was performed by a team composed of 3 auditors, two of them at the ISO 22000 lead auditor level. The main objective of this audit was to evaluate the adequacy of the proposed methodology. The conclusion was that the methodology is effective and adequate to the requirements of the ISO 22000 standard. The main documentation developed was also shown as the result of the implementation. The methodology and forms developed may help organizations to reduce the time involved in the implementation of the ISO 22000 system, even though adjustments to their circumstances shall be made. The necessary adjustments shall consider the kind of the product and the related statutory and regulatory requirements.