This study explored the experiences of mature women undertaking Master’s degrees at a Historically Disadvantaged Institution of Higher Learning in South Africa. Attaining a Master’s degree is a significant milestone in education and the process may take from one to three, or more, years. The study aims to describe aspects of the women’s experiences of their research journeys and the goal of the study is to present descriptions of these experiences. The methodology is qualitative and uses a critical feminist approach, appropriate to exploring the research questions. A critical feminist stance holds that women experience the world differently to men given the patriarchal structure of society. Emphasis is placed on the primacy of the co-researcher’s perceptions of their experiences. A single method research design was followed using semi-structured interviews. The analysis resulted in the emergence of a number of central themes. Together these reflect the experiences of the co-researchers, although they did not automatically share all the experiences. The findings show that postgraduate study, in the form of a Master’s degree, was found to be transformative, meaningful and worthwhile, although not without difficulties; mainly the demands required of multiple roles within home, community, work, and the university. This study contributes towards the larger body of research within education, in particular in the understanding the experiences of mature women within the field of postgraduate study.

In this study an attempt was made to explore the challenges with regard to publications experienced by academic women at three selected Historically Black Universities (HBUs). Although based predominantly within a feminist qualitative metholodogical framework, both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used in this study. Based on the findings of the study, the recommendations illustrated participants' responses. Some of the recommendations illustrated participants' expressed need of staff development with a specific focus on training in publication skills / mentoring and support networks / assistance and support for their publishing venture at both institutional and departmental level and the development of strategies that would assist academic women in 'juggling' their personal and academic roles.

In this study an attempt was made to explore the challenges with regard to publications experienced by academic women at three selected Historically Black Universities (HBUs). Although based predominantly within a feminist qualitative metholodogical framework, both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used in this study. Based on the findings of the study, the recommendations illustrated participants' responses. Some of the recommendations illustrated participants' expressed need of staff development with a specific focus on training in publication skills / mentoring and support networks / assistance and support for their publishing venture at both institutional and departmental level and the development of strategies that would assist academic women in 'juggling' their personal and academic roles.

Bibliography: leaves 97-104 / In this dissertation I examine the public's use of two community libraries in the Moretele local municipality. My research focused on who uses the libraries, for what purpose the libraries are being used, and patrons’ perceptions of the libraries. Data was collected using three methods namely interviews, observations in the form of seating sweeps and written patron surveys. The data collected show that the libraries play an important role in the information and social needs of the communities. They are highly valued for the resources they provide such as study space, books and photocopiers. The libraries are also greatly utilised by local communities, especially UNISA students, and function as public and third places. As public spaces they offer the community a space to meet, work together and discuss issues that are of importance to the community. As third places, the libraries offer ideal places for people, especially the youth, to play and socialise. I conclude that the libraries are irreplaceable spaces for the community and, therefore, not easily replicated elsewhere. / Kule-dissertation, ngihlola ukusetshenziswa ngumphakathi kwamalayibrari amabili omphakathi kuMasipala wendawo yaseMoretele. Ucwaningo lwami lugxila ekuthengi ngobani abasebenzisa amalayibrari, nokuthi bawasebenzisela ziphi izinhloso lamalayibrari, kanye nemibono yabantu abasebenzisa lamalayibrari. Ulwazi luqokelelwe ngezindlela ezintathu, okuyilezi, ama-interview, ukuqapha okwenzekayo ngendlela yokubheka ukuthi abantu bayisebenzisa kanjani indawo kanye nokwenza ama-survey abhaliwe kubasebenzisi belayibrari. Ulwazi oluqokelelwe lukhombise ukuthi amalayibrari adlala indima ebalulekile ngolwazi, kanye nezidingo zabantu emphakathini. Athathwa njengomthombo obaluleke kakhulu ngoba asiza ngendawo yokutadisha, izincwadi kanye nokwenza ama-photocopy. Amalayibrari abuye asetshenziswe yimiphakathi yendawo, ikakhulukazi izitshudeni zase-Unisa, kanti futhi abuye abe yindawo lapho lapho umphakathi ohlangana khona kanye nokuba yindawo yesithathu kwabanye abantu. Njengendawo yokuhlangana kwabantu, ahlinzeka ngendawo yemihlangano yomphakathi, ukusebenzisana kanye nokuxoxa ngezinto ezibalulekile emphakathini. Indawo yesithathu, amalayibrari asiza ngendawo enhle kubantu, ikakhulukazi intsha, ukudlala kanye nokuzihlanganyela nje khona ukubonana nokuxoxa. Ngiphetha ngokuthi amalayibrari yindawo isikhundla sawo engeke yathathwa ngokunye emphakathini, ngakho-ke, akuwona izinto indawo yawo engathathwa ngokunye noma ukwenziwa kwenye indawo. / Mo thutopatlisisong eno, ke sekaseka tiriso ya dilaeborari tse pedi tsa baagi ba setšhaba mo Lekgotlatoropong la Selegae la Moretele. Patlisiso ya me e ne e totile gore ke bomang ba ba dirisang dilaeborari, gore dilaeborari di dirisediwa mabaka afe, le megopolo ya badirisi malebana le dilaeborari. Go kokoantswe data go dirisiwa mekgwa e le meraro, e leng dipotsolotso, kelotlhoko ka go ela tlhoko go nna ga badirisi le ditshekatsheko tse di kwadilweng tsa badirisi. Data e e kokoantsweng e bontshitse gore dilaeborari di na le seabe sa botlhokwa malebana le ditlhokwa tsa tshedimosetso le loago tsa baagi. Di tsewa di le mosola tota ka ntlha ya ditlamelo tse di di tlamelang ka tsona di tshwana le sebaka sa go ithuta, dibuka le metšhini e e dirang dikhopi. Dilaeborari di dirisiwa thata ke baagi ba selegae, bogolo segolo baithuti ba Unisa, mme di dira jaaka mafelo a botlhe le a boraro. Jaaka mafelo a botlhe, di tlamela baagi ka sebaka sa go kopana, go dira mmogo le go buisana ka dintlha tse di botlhokwa mo baaging. Jaaka mafelo a boraro, dilaeborari di tlamela ka mafelo a a maleba gore batho, bogolo segolo bašwa, ba tshameke le go golagana. Ke konosetsa ka gore dilaeborari ke mafelo a a ka se emelweng ke sepe a baagi mme, ka jalo, ga go kgonege go dira ape a a tshwanang nao gope gape. / Anthropology and Archaeology / M.A. (Anthropology)