This study is intended as a contribution to the debate and quality assurance activity
which in South Africa is following the South African Qualifications Authority's
recommendations that better quality co-operative education work experience be
provided for higher education students.
This study focuses on the perceptions and experiences of a cohort of Durban Institute
of Technology students involved in co-operative education work programmes.
Through a process of random sampling twenty students each were selected from the
faculties of Arts, Commerce, Engineering Science & Built Environment and Health
Sciences. The students comprised both male and female students in various years of
study. Questionnaires articulating the research enquiry as well as the purpose of the
study and questions to be answered for the study were mailed individually to each
selected student.
Forty six of the total selected sample of students returned completed questionnaires.
The instrument comprised open and closed ended questions. With the aid of a
statistical database programme the data was analysed.
Findings of the study indicated that students' perceptions and experiences vary from
positive to negative. Issues of racial discrimination, inadequate or no salaries and lack
of support from mentors and lecturers emerged as concerns articulated by many
students. On the contrary students perceived themselves as the greatest beneficiaries
of the work programmes. Students also noted the relevance and value of the work
programmes in developing the students' and preparing them for the workplace.
The recommendations for co-operative education practitioners, in terms of listening to
the voices of the students' in this study, is invaluable. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of Durban-Westville, 2004.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/3937 |
| Date | January 2004 |
| Creators | Pillay, Vasantha. |
| Contributors | Ramrathan, P. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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