This thesis focuses on the widely acknowledged so-called brain drain controversy. More concretely on developments in the traditional brain drain literature towards a new shift, claiming the brain gain effect, as an alternative to the brain drain effect, that emigration may bring to a source country. The research investigates not only the obvious direct loss effects – the so called brain drain – but also the possibility of more subtle indirect beneficial effects.

Os metalúrgicos da região do ABC Paulista sofreram, desde o golpe militar em 1964, de um lado, a repressão política que impossibilitava a organização dos trabalhadores, tanto sindical como grevista; e de outro, o arrocho salarial e a carestia, causados pela política econômica do governo que, nesta época, era quem determinava os índices de reajuste salarial. Paralelamente, durante a década de 70, o Sindicato dos Metalúrgicos de São Bernardo do Campo e Diadema, progressivamente, adotou um discurso de aproximação aos trabalhadores. Ainda, muitos movimentos populares se organizaram neste período na Grande São Paulo, articulando-se com os movimentos sindicais. Tais processos desencadearam uma série de greves de trabalhadores do setor metalúrgico no ABC Paulista, em um ciclo que começou em 1978 e se estendeu até meados da década de 80. As greves marcaram a fundação do que se chama hoje de novo sindicalismo, além de ter raízes na fundação da CUT (Central Única dos Trabalhadores) e do PT (Partido dos Trabalhadores). A presente pesquisa tem por objetivo analisar, a partir de uma perspectiva psicossocial, a memória que trabalhadores metalúrgicos do ABC Paulista têm das greves, bem como dos processos que a antecederam. A psicologia social, ciência que foca o homem enquanto participante de grupos ou coletividades, que vive em companhia dos outros, é um campo do conhecimento adequado para a análise de fenômenos políticos, como foram as greves dos metalúrgicos do ABC. O recurso à memória, por meio de depoimentos, traz pistas de como se deu a participação do trabalhador na greve, assim como da relação dele com as pessoas envolvidas (colegas, sindicalistas, patrões). Foram entrevistados cinco metalúrgicos que participaram das greves referidas, e um que não participou das greves, mas viveu o momento em que elas aconteceram na condição de trabalhador metalúrgico. Foram feitas entrevistas semi-dirigidas, que privilegiaram a narrativa dos fatos vividos. A análise das entrevistas foi feita seguindo uma linha qualitativa, e foi dividida em quatro eixos, expostos a seguir: 1) Sobre os significados das greves, estes apareceram de múltiplas formas. As greves apareceram relacionadas à violência, à conquista de direitos e ao resgate de uma dignidade perdida; 2) A partir dos depoimentos percebe-se uma construção coletiva das memórias das greves, principalmente em relação aos acontecimentos com participação de grande número de pessoas, como as grandes assembleias. Cada depoente, no entanto, destaca o que foi marcante para si. E as narrativas de acontecimentos que tiveram uma participação ativa do depoente têm importante destaque nas entrevistas; 3) Nas trajetórias de formação política dos grevistas aparece com destaque a importância do sindicato e dos movimentos sociais, como o ligado à Igreja Católica. A mediação de tais movimentos coletivos exerce papel fundamental na conscientização sobre a organização política e social relacionada às greves; e 4) O entrelaçamento temporal nos depoimentos mostra que é inevitável a comparação dos fatos lembrados do passado com o momento presente. As avaliações das consequências das greves no presente e as perspectivas políticas para o futuro estão ligadas ao que o trabalhador construiu como horizonte utópico. / The metallurgist workers from the ABC Paulista area suffered, since the military coup détat in 1964, from on side, the political repression that made impossible the workers oragnization (either concerning to labor unions or to calling strikes); from the other, the salary devaluation and the accentuated raise of prices, caused by the the economical politics of the government that, in those times, was who determined the salary rates. At the same time, during the 1970s, the São Bernardo do Campo and Diadema Metallurgist Labor Union, pregressively, adopted the intention to get closer to the workers causes. Furthermore, many popular movements were organized during this period in the Great São Paulo, also tying up with the labor unions. Such processes leaded to a series of strikes of the metallurgist workers in the ABC Paulista, starting in 1978 and continiung until the mid 1980s. These strikes are related to the foundation of the so-called New Labor-Unionism, as well as having straight relations with the foundation of the CUT (an important labor union central in Brazil) and the PT (Workers Party). The aim of this research is to analyse, in a psycho-social perspective, the memories that the metallurgist workers have of these strikes, as well as the memories of the processes that preceded them. Social psychology, a science that has its focus on the person that takes part on groups or collectivities and that lives in company of others, is a suitable subject for the analysis of any political phenomena, such as the strikes. The support of the memory, brought up by the testimony of those who wer involved on the happenings, can give us clues of how the involvement of the workers in the strike were, as well as their relations with the people who took part on the processes (co-workers, union traders, bosses). Five metallurgist workers that took part os the strikes mentioned above were interviewed. Also one worker that didnt take part on the strikes, but was working in an metallurgist factory at that time, was interviewed. The interviews were based on the semi-direct method, focusing on the narration of the events. The analysis of the interviews was made according to a qualitative stream, and was divided in four axes, which are the following: 1) About the meaning of the strikes, these apperaed in multiple forms. They were related to violence, to the conquering of rights and to the rescue of a lost dignity; 2) A collective construction of the memory of the strikes was noticed, especially over the events that had a great amount of people involved, like some assemblies. Each interviewee, though, made stand out the facts that were most meaningful for himself. And the events that had an active participation of the interviewees had an important distinction on the narrations; 3) About the political upbringing of the strikers, the union trades and the social movements (such as the one linked to the catholic church) play an important role. The mediation of these movements are essential for bringing up the consciousness of the political and social organization related to the strikes; and 4) There is an inevitable interlacement between past and present during the remebering process. The judgement of the consequences of the strikes on the present and the political perspectives of the future are linked to how the worker constituted his utopic horizons.

Magister Public Health - MPH / Despite all measures taken by the South African government since 1994, there is a contiuous increase of maternal mortality in the country and the Northwest Province is amongst the highest. Studies to date combining the review of maternal deaths and severe acute maternal morbidity (SAMM) have been conducted primarily in urban areas. The aim of this study was to determine the causes of death and avoidable factors for maternal mortality and severe acute maternal morbidity in a rural regional hospital from 01/01/2005 to 30/04/2006. / South Africa

This PhD dissertation is concerned with highly skilled new Chinese migrants (HSNCMs) in the UK and their transnational (or trans-boundary) careers and business practice between China and Britain. The research subjects are those HSNCMs who have established careers and business connections between China and the UK since 1990. This research pays special attention to relationships between the transnational practice of HSNCMs, brain circulation (or their knowledge exchange with China) and China’s globalisation. Three main topics are discussed in this dissertation: First, it examines the states’ engagement which has a direct impact on transnational mobility of HSNCMs in the UK. Second, it analyzes transnational network building of OCP associations (professional associations of HSNCMs) linking between HSNCMs and China. Third, it discusses individual transnational career and business activities and identity construction of HSNCMs in order to understand China’s brain circulation in the UK context. The main theoretical object of this paper is to combine brain circulation studies with the theoretical framework of transnational migration studies. The findings of this research show that states’ policy engagement (especially China’s initiatives) is very powerful. Through transnational network building of OCP associations, HSNCMs integrate their personal development into the national projects of Mainland China. For individual HSNCMs, their transnational practice is diverse in terms of their different social backgrounds. For most HSNCMs with trans-boundary careers and business practice, their transnational identities are combined with Chinese consciousness. They have set up strategies to develop their careers and business between the sending country and receiving country. The multiple interactions between HSNCMs and China, therefore, have produced a significant impact on the brain circulation of HSNCMs and the globalisation of China.

In an attempt to address the challenges relating to the lack of well-trained and skilled workers, which directly impacts on the quality of products delivered by the construction sector, this study focuses on an assessment of the Accelerated Professional Trade Competency Development Programme within the Department of Public Works in the province of the Eastern Cape in South Africa. The main focal area of the study is the OR Tambo Region. These challenges manifest themselves through, among others, backlogs in the delivery of housing by the Eastern Cape Department of Housing and Local Government where the majority of houses demonstrate poor workmanship. Hence the Department of Public works has introduced the Accelerated Professional Trade Competency Development Programme. This study investigates the effectiveness of the implementation of the Accelerated Professional Trade Competency Development Programme. Particular attention is paid to the extent to which the Programme contributes towards the development of qualified artisans and what improvement areas can be effected to achieve its objectives.

High levels of unemployment and skills shortages in key parts of the South African economy are well documented. The failure of the South African economy to absorb new entrants to the job market is also well documented. The paradox of an economy that was growing for over a decade during the late nineties and early 2000s creating a lot of vacancies and yet at the same time seeing ever growing levels of unemployment numbers also makes for interesting reading. Learnership programs are intended to address this situation by reducing the problem of skills shortages and leading in the human capital development that is aligned to industry needs. Thus is the purpose of this study to determine whether the beneficiaries of the learnership programs, the graduates, find benefit from having completed these learnership programs. It is to evaluate whether they find the program to have been effective in either equipping them sufficiently to improve prospects of finding permanent employment or successfully starting their own businesses. An extensive literature study of the history of the FET and its development, the concept of learnership and legislation and statutes applicable to the sector in South Africa was undertaken so that the skills development initiatives in the country are contextualised. The empirical part of the study involved a self-constructed questionnaire designed to illicit perspectives of the FET training and learnership within the FET graduate population that have completed their studies at an FET institution within Nelson Mandela Bay. The data collected indicate that a substantial majority of the sample find The data collected indicate that a substantial majority of the sample find the training to be effective and confirm the literature findings that learnerships can improve the issue of skills shortage in industry. The study makes recommendations that encompass work-based strategies and training based strategies to further improve the program. The recommendations are targeted at the FET college, the work-place training providers and the MERSETA and are meant solely to assist the organisations in overcoming the identified challenges emanating from learnership implementation.

Although Skilled Birth Attendance has been universally acknowledged as essential to progress in the field of maternal health (WHO, 2004), Human Resources for Health (HRH) deficits are currently impeding the sustainability of essential maternal health interventions on a global scale. Over the past 30 years, the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), along with other agencies such as non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations, have developed a self-contained health system, which provides health services, including maternity care, to migrants and refugees at the Thailand-Myanmar Border. The staff necessary to the provision of care in SMRU’s clinics are mostly recruited from within the migrant and refugee populations, and trained internally by SMRU. In the last decade, SMRU has experienced high-turnover rates and shortages of Skilled Birth Attendants (SBA). Consequently, their current maternity workforce is characterized by an acute shortage of SBAs who have attained senior status, and a higher concentration of SBAs at the assistant and junior levels. As a response to these HRH challenges, this case study aimed to conduct a multi-level analysis of obstacles and enablers to professional development amongst Skilled Birth Attendants working for SMRU. This single descriptive case study with embedded units of analysis, which incorporated non-participant observation, a template-based personnel file review, individual interviews, and focus groups at two of SMRU’s Birthing Units, represented a unique opportunity to observe and analyze the multiple influences that interact at various levels of a relatively self-contained health system. By highlighting the obstacles and enablers present within the system, this study purposed to identify means by which to empower lower level SBAs, support their professional development, and create a more sustainable maternity workforce. The study found that SMRU has been successful in providing its SBAs with the appropriate midwifery skills to fulfill a limited scope of practice, and in fostering strong intra-professional relationships that allow the SBAs to motivate and mentor each other. Achieving workforce sustainability with a model of care that implements task-shifting requires a balance of appropriate and constructive consultation structures without enabling the stagnation of SBAs’ skills and confidence. This study also reveals the importance of context and culture to a health system’s capacity to optimally plan and implement its HRH functions. Finally, in the case of SMRU, persistent recruitment and retention concerns underscore that workforce sustainability cannot be achieved through professional development alone. Therefore, this study reveals a need for further inquiry into the complexities of maternal health workforce planning in contexts of protracted displacement, and the challenges associated with developing appropriate supervisory structures for lower level health professionals.

Problem: Zambia has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world. Risks of serious complications during childbirth and associated maternal morbidity and mortality can be mitigated by improving access to skilled birth attendants and emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC) in facilities when complications arise. In 2012, the Saving Mothers Giving Life (SMGL) initiative was launched in Kalomo District, Zambia, to reduce maternal deaths. Methods: This study assessed the impact of SMGL in Kalomo District on rates of facility delivery, delivery with a skilled birth attendant, and facility-level changes in the provision of maternity and newborn care during the first learning phase, 2012–2013. Changes in neonatal mortality were also assessed. A mixed-methods approach utilized a quasi-experimental pre-post nonequivalent comparison group design using household data (n=21,680 women) and health facility assessments (n=77) including EmONC signal functions. Data were collected from February 2011–October 2013, before and during SMGL program implementation, in the intervention district and a comparison area. A qualitative inquiry with key informants (n=26) was then conducted in September 2014. Results: There was a 49% relative increase in the odds of facility-based birth during SMGL in Kalomo relative to comparison districts (OR 1.49, 95% CI: 1.21–1.77), controlling for covariates. There was no significant change in delivery with a skilled birth attendant. Newborn mortality in Kalomo decreased significantly (4.3% to 2.6%, p<0.01), even when controlling for covariates, with no change in comparison. EmONC signal functions increased from a mean of 2.7 to 3.9 (p=0.003) per facility in Kalomo, with no change in the comparison area. Most facility-level changes related to newborn care. Informants attributed impacts primarily to community mobilization by Safe Motherhood Action Group volunteers and clinical mentorship. Conclusion: SMGL positively influenced demand for facility deliveries. Data indicate a limited measurable change in supply-side indicators of provision of intra-partum maternity care, while improving neonatal survival. Interviews suggested that mentoring existing staff might be responsible for improved care and referrals. Phase 2 should focus on strengthening human resources to increase access to skilled delivery and strategies to improve communication and transport to facilitate timely referral of emergency cases.

We develop a model to explain two-way migration of high-skilled individuals between countries that are similar in their economic characteristics. High-skilled migration results from the combination of workers whose abilities are private knowledge, and a production technology that gives incentives to firms for hiring workers of similar ability. In the presence of migration cost, high-skilled workers self-select into the group of migrants. The laissez-faire equilibrium features too much migration, explained by a negative migration externality. We also show that for sufficiently low levels of migration cost the optimal level of migration, while smaller than in the laissez-faire equilibrium, is strictly positive. Finally, we extend our model into different directions to capture stylized facts in the data and show that our baseline results also hold in these more complex modelling environments.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Migration is an important topic, not only for researchers in South Africa, but also for policymakers and the media. It is an issue at the top of the national and international agenda. In the debate on migration and the literature, voices of migrants themselves remain mostly unheard. The public perceptions and policy-making are often based on fear, stereotypes and common myths rather than reality. In this study, the researcher aimed to examine the socio-economic integration challenges of highly-skilled Nigerian migrants and how they may help contribute their skills towards the socioeconomic development of South Africa to potentially inform the national migration policy, as well as future research. Methodologically, the researcher conducted a mixed-method study using an interpretive paradigm. Data were derived from 22 semi-structured interviews and six in-depth interviews. The study used a combination of purposive and snowballing sampling techniques, where semi-structured and in-depth interviews, as well as observations, were also carried out. Data gathered were analysed using thematic analysis.