Magister Educationis - MEd / Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the process of recognizing and crediting a person for his/her knowledge and experience however attained and promoting that person along a development pathway. In South Africa RPL has been promoted for social justice purposes related to access and redress. However these intentions have been lost within current educational discourses despite being rooted in several policies. Recently the role of vocational education has received increased prominence as a means to provide skills development. However there is often a disjuncture between policy formulation and implementation and this has given rise to this study of how RPL policy has been implemented within public Further Education and Training (FET) colleges. This paper investigates the RPL policies and practices in two public FET colleges and analyses how these employ social justice intentions of access and redress. The study reveals that there are similar conceptions of RPL amongst lecturers but varying RPL practices in these colleges. / South Africa

Magister Educationis - MEd / A qualitative research study, supplemented by a policy and contextual analysis was conducted to evaluate the skills development planning process for Human Resources managers at the NMMU. The findings of the study indicate a need for the NMMU to implement effective skills development planning practices to ensure relevant skills are developed in the Human Resources department. The findings further highlighted the need for a Human Resources strategy and model to guide the skills planning process.

Magister Artium - MA / This study evaluates the extent to which the Environmental Internship Programme has impacted upon graduate employability in the City of Cape Town. Graduate unemployment crisis has been categorized as one of the socio-economic issues affecting the nation of South Africa with graduates struggling to find jobs in the areas which they graduated from. On the other hand, organisations are suffering from a lack of skills in different spheres. In order for this gap to be bridged, human resource development strategies have been put in place for graduates such as; internships, training and learnership programmes. In 2005, the Environmental Resource Management Department (ERMD) launched a programme called the Environmental Internship Programme (EIP) to address the needs of graduates in the environmental management field. The programme is a yearlong internship aimed at bridging the gap between academic learning and the first steps of a professional career. The aim of the ERMD is to create a pool of skilled professionals to be absorbed into the city as well as provincial, national government and the private sector by making the interns better employable by the time they leave the EIP. It is against this background that this study evaluates the impact of the programme on graduate employability. Within the investigation, the researcher looked at the appropriate legislations, and policies that govern a programme of this nature. The study utilizes primary and secondary research information based on interviews and open-ended questionnaires.

Pandemin har en stor påverkan på arbetsmarknaden där de som drabbats hårdast av pandemin är hotell- och restaurangbranschen. Arbetsplatsen har en stor påverkan på den anställdes kompetensutveckling och hälsa. Kompetensutveckling har uppmärksammats som betydelsefullt på arbetsplatsen eftersom detta resulterar i engagerade anställda, högre ekonomisk omsättning i företaget samt ett främjande inlärningsklimat. Därför är det betydelsefullt att undersöka hur ledare bemöter utmaningar inom hotell- och restaurangbranschen såsom pandemin, personalomsättningen samt utvecklingen som sker inom företaget. Syftet med studien var att beskriva ledares erfarenheter av hälsa och kompetensutveckling inom hotell- och restaurangbranschen under pandemin. Studiens teoretiska referensram och pedagogiska utgångspunkt är det anpassnings- och utvecklingssinriktade lärandet, där hälsoteorin KASAM tillåter studiens hälsoaspekter träda fram. För att svara på studiens syfte har elva ledare från olika hotell och restauranger deltagit i semistrukturerade intervjuer. Det insamlade materialet utifrån intervjuerna analyserades sedan genom en konventionell kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultatet visade att sociala sammanhang på arbetsplatsen under pandemin främjar kompetensutveckling och god hälsa, stress och krav på arbetet påverkar hälsan negativt, att planerat eller påtvingad kompetensutveckling inte alltid är hållbart utan endast ett medel för ett större mål. Konklusionen är att sociala relationer har en positiv påverkan på både kompetensutvecklingen och hälsan. Om lärandet upplevs meningsfullt, hanterbart och begripligt anses det indirekt vara hälsofrämjande. Den kompetensutveckling som sker påtvingat har visats påverka hälsan negativt. Avslutningsvis anses ledarnas kompetensutveckling och hälsa vara en process, vars erfarenheter upplevs påfrestande av den pandemiska kontexten. / The pandemic has a major impact on the labor market, and the hotel and restaurant business has been the most affected. The workplace has a big impact on the employee's skills development and health. Skills development has been found to be a significant contributing factor within different companies. This results in engaged employees, higher financial turnover and a promoting learning climate. Therefore, it was of importance to study how leaders respond to challenges within the hotel and restaurant business. Business such as the pandemic context, staff turnover and the development that takes place within the company. The aim of this study was to describe leaders experiences of health and skills development in the hotel and restaurant business during the pandemic. The study's theoretical frame and pedagogical view is: The Developmental and adaptive learning and SOC. To answer the study's aim, eleven leaders from different hotels and restaurants participated in semi-structured interviews. The findings suggest that social contexts within the workplace during the pandemic promote skills development and good health. Furthermore, stress and imposed work demands has a negative impact on health, where planned or forced skills development is not viewed as sustainable. In conclusion, social relationships are positively associated with skills development and health. Additionally, if the learning is experienced as meaningful, manageable and comprehensible, it is indirectly considered to be health-promoting. The skills development that is forced has shown a negative effect on health. Finally, the interdisciplinary basis of this study is considered to have contributed new and original knowledge about skills development and health in a pandemic context.

MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies

Amidst the ever-evolving dynamics of the labour market, business graduates continuallyfind themselves adapting their skill sets to stay competitive and relevant. Extensiveresearch has delved into employability, highlighting the pivotal role of soft skills inadequately preparing business students for today's labour market. Notably, existingliterature indicates that the cultivation of these skills often occurs during youth and isparticularly profound within university settings. However, a debate arises regarding theeffectiveness of business universities in imparting soft skills to students. Given this, priorstudies advocate for closer collaboration between business schools and industry to aligneducation with professional demands and equip students with essential soft skills. In thiscontext, internships emerge as a focal point, with previous research emphasizing theirrole in effectively developing soft skills among students. However, there remains a needfor further research to comprehensively understand how internships influence the processof the development of soft skills. Through a qualitative study and the incorporation ofwell-known theories related to this area, we will delve deeper into this subject. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of internships in enhancing theemployability of business students by contribution to the process of developing four keysoft skills: communication, teamwork, self-management, and problem-solving. Thisobjective is pursued by addressing the following research questions: How can internshipscontribute to the process of the development of communication, teamwork, self-management, and problem-solving skills among Swedish nationals enrolled in businesseducation programs? To achieve this, we conducted in-depth interviews with sevenformer business administration students, all of whom completed internships. Theseindividuals secured employment before their graduation dates, spanning from 2022 to2023, and are all Swedish nationals who pursued their business education at universitiesin Sweden. Through these interviews, we gained insights into their subjectiveexperiences. It has been found, with the application of the experiential learning theory, human capitaltheory, and emotional intelligence theory, that internships indeed contribute to the processof developing communication, teamwork, self-management, and problem-solving skillsamong business students. Furthermore, enhances students’ employability. The analysisindicates that alumni collectively emphasize that internships significantly contribute tothe development of these soft skills, crediting practical experiences, increasedresponsibility, and exposure to workplace dynamics. Consequently, we suggest thatbusiness students should engage in internships. Further, that both business universitiesand organizations at large should encourage and support them in achieving this goal

This dissertation could be viewed as being exploratory on the role that teachers play in continuous assessment in Windhoek primary schools. The demand for new knowledge, skills and abilities necessitate the change in assessment of learning. The various literature that the researcher consulted indicate that not only Namibia, but many other countries worldwide have implemented continuous assessment methods in schools. The challenges and experiences with regard to continuous assessment in these countries are somehow different although there are also some commonalities. Thus, sharing and exchanging of views and ideas on continuous assessment among these countries is advisable. A deducible meaning of continuous assessment from the various literatures is that continuous assessment means any assessment event or activity in which there is a high level of interaction between the learner and the teacher who conducts the assessment. Thus, continuous assessment may be used solely for formative purposes but may also contribute in part or in whole to a summative decision. It became clear that all assessment practices reflect a number of assumptions relating to the nature of learning and teaching, and the purpose of assessment. The researcher gained insight from the teachers themselves as participants through analysis of their textual responses. The research was primarily qualitative. Open-ended questions were used to gain a contextualised and comprehensive understanding of the teachers’ perceptions and experiences regarding continuous assessment. From this study, it transpires that an effective and transparent assessment policy is not only vital to the success of educational practice, but it can help to meet the aspirations contained in the prevailing national education system of a country. The findings provide an alternative point of view from teacher-focussed research which is often conducted in Namibia. The data analysis outlines the role teachers’ play in continuous assessment in Windhoek primary schools. The researcher proposes concrete actions and programmes that could be embarked upon for the benefit of continuous assessment practice in schools. / Teacher Education / M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

In this study Learning study has been carried out as a model for skills development focusing teaching and learning processes for music teachers within the Community School of Arts. The model rests on variation theory to improve teaching and learning. The design of a Learning study consists of three video filmed lessons interwoven with continious monitoring and planning through collagiate dialogues. Work with Learning study starts from the choice of a certain aspect of knowledge, the learning object, and the identification of several critical aspects based on the pupil's current level of understanding. In the teaching situation, the teacher provides variation patterns to support the pupil’s learning.. The design of the model in this study is modified with a view to a better fit with the subject of music, and the context of teaching in the School of Arts. Starting from the cultural-psychological perspective on learning and a phenomenographic inspired method, this study aims to describe the participating teachers’ learning through their Learning study. The teachers have experienced a development of knowledge in themselves as well as in their pupils. They have assimilated a language for reflecting on the process of teaching. Reflected experience has made the didactic interaction in the teaching process visible. The collegiate dialogue has contributed to the development of more variation in the tools used for teaching. Learning study is therefore found be a useful tool in the development of music teaching in the context of Community School of Arts when enough time, continuity and a qualified coach are provided.

Thesis (MPA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Nine years after the launch of the Learnership programme, considerable efforts have been undertaken by various organisations to implement the programme. However, the implementation of the programme is still faced with various challenges which hamper the overall goal of obtaining a formal registered qualification and maximising the employment opportunities of the learners through the combination of vocational education and training. The study focuses on the evaluation of the implementation of the Learnership programme within the Public Service Commission. By nature, evaluations play a critical role of determining the worthiness of a programme or its shortcomings. The study provides a detailed account of the Learnership programme, its design, and the implementation thereof. Furthermore, the study highlights the need for a transparent, non-discriminatory legislative and policy context, as well as sound institutional mechanisms for supporting the implementation of the programme. Based on the evidence gathered, it appears that there is little appreciation of the concept of skills development through the Learnership programme. The implementation of the programme has been marred by coordination and management challenges and as a result, the acquiring of skills or skills transfer through the programme remains a challenge. Overall, the lack of institutionalising the programme has rendered it an ad-hoc activity as opposed to a strategic investment of addressing skills shortage. A number of recommendations are provided for improving the implementation of the programme and to contribute towards resolving the pervasive skills constraints in South Africa through the Learnership programme. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nege jaar na die instelling van die Leerderskapprogram is heelwat werk reeds deur verskeie organisasies gedoen om die program te implementeer. Die implementering van die program gaan steeds met verskeie uitdagings gepaard wat nadelig is vir die verwesenliking van die oorkoepelende doel om 'n formele geregistreerde kwalifikasie te verwerf en die leerders se indiensnemingsgeleenthede te verbeter deur 'n kombinasie van beroepsonderwys en -opleiding. Die studie fokus op die evaluering van die implementering van die Leerderskapprogram in die Staatsdienskommissie. Evaluering speel uiteraard 'n kritieke rol om die waarde of tekortkominge van 'n program te bepaal. Die studie bied 'n gedetailleerde oorsig van die Leerderskapprogram en die ontwerp en implementering daarvan. Voorts beklemtoon die studie 'n deursigtige, niediskriminerende wetgewende en beleidskonteks asook 'n stewige institusionele meganisme om die implementering van die program te steun, hoewel dit uit die getuienis blyk dat daar weinig begrip is van die konsep van vaardigheidsontwikkeling deur die Leerderskapprogram. Die implementering van die program word belemmer deur koördinerings- en bestuursuitdagings, met die gevolg dat die verwerwing van vaardighede of vaardigheidsoordrag deur middel van die program 'n uitdaging bly. In die geheel gesien, veroorsaak die gebrekkige institusionalisering van die program dat dit 'n ad hoc-aktiwiteit is in plaas van 'n strategiese investering om die vaardigheidstekort die hoof te bied. Verskeie aanbevelings word gedoen om die implementering van die program te verbeter en om by te dra tot die oplossing van die wydverspreide vaardigheidstekort in Suid-Afrika deur middel van die Leerderskapprogram.

During the 2000s, the former UK Government introduced the Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) in an attempt to increase the relevance of qualifications and the qualification level of the UK labour force (HMSO 2006). However views about the value of the QCF and qualifications generally are contested. Through longitudinal case study research, the thesis finds a vocational purpose for qualifications that supports a culture of continuous improvement. This results in models that contribute to thinking about vocational learning and the role of qualifications, and provide a conceptional bridge between paradigms of workplace learning and concepts of organisational excellence. The thesis explores common understanding of learning and skills to explain issues relating to National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and the QCF. In particular the thesis identifies significant implementation problems for the QCF due to differing ontological and epistemological understanding of the meaning of skills and their measurement, and requirements for different delivery and assessment models. In addition, the study identifies that rapidly changing organisational arrangements and regulation hinder the establishment of a more diverse and inclusive QCF. The thesis concludes that the QCF best fits Hager’s (2002) concept of learning that encompasses learning of many different kinds. Also the QCF is valuable as a flexible framework that establishes a degree of order in complex, rapidly changing learning environments. However the qualifications require broadly specified assessment criteria, and links to external communities of practice and associated learning packages.