This thesis is addressing the Student Assistance Policy in the context of reform of public higher education. The study analyzed the changes after the institutionalization of PNAES in IFES, through the operationalization of the UFS student assistance. The survey consisted of bibliographic and documentary, with emphasis on the dimension qualiquantitaiva, exploratory and descriptive, guided by the perspective of dialectical and historical materialism. As a problem to be solved, wondered if the UFS could effect a policy of student assistance as provided in PNAES. Regarding the general objective aimed to verify whether there were changes in the student assistance PROEST after the institutionalization of PNAES in UFS. As data sources were used in institutional documents, being prioritized Management Reporting and Accountability of UFS and CODAE / PROEST the years 2008 to 2012, but others were also analyzed, such as resolutions, laws, tables historical and institutional budgets. The study allowed us to analyze the trends and characteristics of the student assistance after the institutionalization of PNAES in UFS. Realized that the obstacles in effecting a policy of student assistance are directly linked to the priorities defined in the midst of neoliberal policies, in which hegemony is markets, also associating the student assistance to the service logic and not of law. Therefore, the steps taken to seek compliance with pre-set targets by REUNI who will play in PNAES. The survey results show that the policy of student assistance is an important mechanism for ensuring students´ rights. Let obvious difficulties for establishing a policy of assistance in the form of a public policy, as provided in PNAES. In view of this it must be stated that there were no significant changes in welfare policy implemented by PROEST / UFS after deployment PNAES. / A presente dissertação tem como tema a Política de Assistência Estudantil no contexto de reforma da educação superior pública. O estudo analisou as mudanças ocorridas após a institucionalização do PNAES nas IFES, a partir da operacionalização da assistência estudantil da UFS. A pesquisa realizada consistiu de estudo bibliográfico e documental, com ênfase na dimensão qualiquantitaiva, de caráter exploratório e descritivo, norteado pela perspectiva do materialismo histórico e dialético. Como problema a ser desvendado, indagou-se se a UFS conseguiu efetivar uma política de assistência estudantil conforme preceitua o PNAES. No tocante ao objetivo geral buscou verificar se houve mudanças na assistência estudantil da PROEST após a institucionalização do PNAES na UFS. Como fontes de dados, foram utilizados os documentos institucionais, sendo priorizados os Relatórios de Gestão e de Prestação de Contas da UFS e da CODAE/PROEST dos anos de 2008 a 2012, mas também foram analisados outros, tais como resoluções, legislações, históricos institucionais e etc. O estudo permitiu analisar as tendências e características da assistência estudantil após a institucionalização do PNAES na UFS. Percebeu-se que os obstáculos na efetivação de uma política de assistência estudantil estão diretamente vinculados às prioridades definidas no bojo das políticas neoliberais, nas quais a hegemonia é dos mercados, associando também a assistência estudantil à lógica de serviço e não de direito. Portanto, as medidas adotadas buscam o cumprimento de metas pré-estabelecidas pelo REUNI que vão se reproduzir no PNAES. Os resultados da pesquisa mostram que a política de assistência estudantil é um mecanismo importante para a garantia de direitos dos alunos. Deixa evidentes as dificuldades de estabelecer uma política de assistência no formato de uma política pública, conforme preceitua o PNAES. Em vista disso, deve-se afirmar que não houve mudanças significativas na política de assistência executada pela PROEST/UFS após a implantação do PNAES.

Faced with the influx of emerging technologies, educators must continuously equip themselves with the necessary skills to effectively impact on today’s learners. Central to successful curriculum reform and student retention is the realisation that educators need to engage in continuous professional development, to meet the learners’ needs. The purpose of this research study is to explore and study how educators’ skills, knowledge and experience in e-learning can contribute to the successful achievement of the institution’s and students’ educational goals and to the design of a quality support system in an ODeL environment in a developing country. A mixed-method research approach was adopted. The target population was the University of South Africa (Unisa) academic staff members who enrolled for an elearning programme with the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) between the year 2012 and 2014. Convenience non-probability sampling was used and a total of 60 candidates were invited to participate in the study. Most of the participants pointed to the empathetic support they received from the relevant UMUC staff and also indicated that they are now ready to create an empathetic learning environment for their own students at Unisa. It is the premise of this paper that academics cannot impart and/or transfer what they do not have or know to learners and it gives recommendations on striving towards an effective empathetic students support in distance education and e-learning continuous professional development to effectively impact on today’s learners. The importance of pace, assignment due dates, use of rubrics, turnaround time for feedback, built-in support, and appropriate assessment strategies are also key findings in the report. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Open and Distance Learning (ODL)