An analysis of current East African higher education systems and institutions
- Authors: Gouws, Jeanine
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Education, Higher -- Africa, East -- Evaluation , Universities and colleges -- Africa, East
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:16147 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/785 , Education, Higher -- Africa, East -- Evaluation , Universities and colleges -- Africa, East
- Description: Higher education (HE) institutions play a vital role in the generation of new knowledge in the 21st Century, as HE is recognised as a key force for modernisation and development. The development and advancement of information technology have led to an interconnected, borderless world of knowledge, and HE institutions have become part of what is known as the global HE network society. HE institutions in developed countries are the most actively involved in producing and disseminating knowledge, and compete with one another in adding to this world stock of knowledge. In addition, HE has become a national priority in developed countries, and governments place pressure on HE institutions to form part of and remain active in the global HE network society in order to contribute to the knowledge-centred economy of today. However, the developing world lags far behind in becoming part of the global HE network society. As long as the developing world face constraints in attempts to improve national economies, alleviate poverty and maintain sustainability, prospects of contributing to, and participating in the global HE network society seem unlikely. HE can be used as a tool in addressing national development needs. With the necessary support and recognition from governments, HE should play a vital role in the process of reform and the revitalisation of developing countries. Africa is the least developed in terms of HE institutions. Approximately 300 institutions fit the definition of a university across the continent. While some countries on the continent, especially in Southern and Northern Africa, can claim comprehensive academic systems, most have just a few academic institutions and some countries have not yet even established differentiated post-secondary systems. It is generally assumed that most countries south of the Sahara lack adequate HE systems, or that they have no HE systems at all. Very little information on African HE systems and institutions, and how they function, is available, and there is a need for a deeper investigation into African HE systems and institutions. The vastness and diversity of the African continent does not allow for a single study of all African countries and their HE systems and institutions. It is for this reason that East Africa, comprising Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, was chosen for this study. This specific region exhibits common characteristics amongst its countries. A British colonial history, similar secondary schooling systems and a predominance of the English language, set East Africa apart from the rest of the African continent. East African HE functions on a regional, national, and institutional level, and their way of functioning is interdependent.
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- Date Issued: 2008
An evaluation of the assessment criteria of the Unit Standard 115789
- Authors: Danster, Franscesca Olivia
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Education -- Standards -- South Africa , Accreditation (Education) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8366 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1215 , Education -- Standards -- South Africa , Accreditation (Education) -- South Africa
- Description: This study investigates the assessment criteria of Unit Standard 115789: Communication Studies and Language. In general unit standards are registered, standardised statements of expected education and training outcomes including assessment criteria and other regulatory information required by training providers and assessors to train and assess learners under the Skills Development Act of 1998. However, it was found that many training providers and assessors share the view that in the case of Unit Standard 115789, among others, the assessment criteria and their descriptors are generic, vague and non-context specific to the extent that trainers and assessors have difficulty in developing appropriate and reliable assessment tools and instruments that allow them to adhere to the basic principles of assessment, namely transparency, validity, reliability, consistency, practicability, fairness, flexibility and usability. The main concern of the study is that learners will be declared communicatively competent individuals in a variety of professional and industrial environments when in fact they are not. The study traces the origins and development processes of Unit Standard 115789 in order to gain a clearer understanding of the problems experienced by training providers and assessors in the implementation of the assessment criteria. It then proposes a set of guidelines that will assist training providers and assessors to make the assessment criteria more accessible and the assessment processes more reliable, valid and consistent. Finally, it makes a number of recommendations to ensure that the problems of implementation of Unit Standard 115789 currently experienced by training providers and assessors are alleviated.
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- Date Issued: 2008
An investigation into the representation of the mentally ill in popular film
- Authors: Vermeulen, Monique
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Mental illness in motion pictures , Mental illness , Mass media
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8403 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/800 , Mental illness in motion pictures , Mental illness , Mass media
- Description: There is a common perception that media depiction of mental health and illness is overwhelmingly negative and inaccurate. Media portrayal of mental illness is also viewed as an important element in forming and influencing society’s attitudes towards mental health issues, although there is no causal link to prove this. People with mental illness are most commonly shown as being violent and aggressive. Movie stereotypes that contribute to the stigmatisation of mentally ill persons include the mental patient as rebellious free spirit, homicidal maniac, seductress, enlightened member of society, narcissistic parasite, and zoo specimen. The profession of psychiatry is, has always been, and will likely continue to be a much enjoyed subject among filmmakers and their audiences, as it tends to provide exciting and emotionally compelling opportunities to portray personal struggles feared by most of humanity. This research will analyse the entertainment media in an attempt to provide evidence to support the above statement. The research will, furthermore, analyse the manner in which entertainment media represent the mentally ill with reference to popular films invariably produced in the US
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- Date Issued: 2008
An investigation of masculinity in J. M. Coetzee's disgrace (1999)
- Authors: Kok, Marina Susan
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Coetzee, J. M., 1940- -- Criticism and interpretation , Masculinity in literature
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8463 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/783 , Coetzee, J. M., 1940- -- Criticism and interpretation , Masculinity in literature
- Description: The study of Masculinity is a fairly new phenomenon which developed as a refinement of gender studies. The theoretical frameworks on masculinity are still under development and are often severely contested. This study proposes to examine the dynamics of masculinity studies, critiquing the notion of ‘masculinity in crisis’. The premise of the masculinity in crisis debate is that men are experiencing an increasing sense of powerlessness. This dissertation aims to examine the masculine identities represented in Disgrace and to test whether they are better understood through the lens of masculine theory. The disgraceful situation of David Lurie is arguably not merely a result of hapless circumstance, but rather illustrates significant parallels with the crisis debate. The basic premise of this debate is that the behaviour previously condoned and applauded as healthy 'manliness' is now being labelled as anti-social and destructive. It is not just masculine roles that are under threat. Other forces behind the crisis are “the loss of masculine rights and changes in the pattern of employment” (Beynon 2002:75). One view held by theorists of masculinity studies is that for real change to occur, a fluid definition of masculine identity is needed. In J.M. Coetzee’s Disgrace (1999), the main protagonist is David Lurie. He may arguably be said to typify a masculinity that is in a state of crisis because of his stoic refusal throughout the novel to change or reform: “I was offered a compromise, which I would not accept”, he says, and: “Re-education. Reformation of the character. The code word was counselling” (1999:66). His aversion to such counselling and refusal to compromise mark his resistance to change.
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- Date Issued: 2008
Between hotel mama and petrol station manager: the represatations of women's realities in a selection of African films
- Authors: O'Reilly, Kevin Joseph
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Motion pictures -- Africa , Women in motion pictures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8404 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/789 , Motion pictures -- Africa , Women in motion pictures
- Description: The roles that women perform as depicted in African films are often dictated to by the type of society they find themselves in. At first glance traditional societies can be seen as oppressive because of the presence of certain cultural practices. Alternatively modern urban settings appear to offer women authority and empowerment through employment. However, with a closer examination one sees that the situation is not so simplistic. Such is the case when certain traditional practices that are deemed oppressive through a Western perspective, are still found in urban societies. Films on the subject of African women have to be cautious not place their characters in stereotypical roles. Therefore, it is not enough to merely portray African women as ‘oppressed’. African films that engage in a feminist critique need to present ‘realistic’ portrayals of African women. Such characters are layered and complex. The film Faat Kine (2000) depicts such a character in the authoritative protagonist Kine. The film La Vie est Belle (1987) examines the issue of polygamous marriages and patriarchy from the point of view of two African women living in France. Touki Bouki (1973) examines two young characters living in Senegal and questions the possibility of escape from ones circumstances. Traditional practices such as polygamous marriages are explored in Xala (1975), and Finzan (1989) explores cultural practices such as forced marriages and female circumcision. This treatise will consider women and work in both traditional society and urban settings. African feminism will also be investigated for the purpose of exploring common social perceptions of women in Africa.
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- Date Issued: 2008
Negotiated cultural influence : a qualitative study of second year Chinese students at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in 2007 with specific reference to internet usage
- Authors: Yu, Yuanyuan
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Internet in education , Internet -- Social aspects , Students, Foreign -- South Africa , Computer networks -- Social aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8375 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/801 , Internet in education , Internet -- Social aspects , Students, Foreign -- South Africa , Computer networks -- Social aspects
- Description: This study aims to investigate the possible influence of Western culture on second-year Chinese students at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in 2007 by focusing on their Internet usage. Roland Robertson’s theory of glocalization is employed as the theoretical framework in this study. The research design is qualitative in nature. Individual semi-structured interviews are the method of collecting research data while a thematic analysis is the means of analysing and interpreting the research data. The sample comprises twelve second-year Chinese students who are studying at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in 2007 and have access to the Internet. This study has found that Western culture has exerted multi-faceted influences on the Chinese students through their Internet usage, and that they always negotiate such influences by selecting, adapting and appropriating what is useful in Western culture in an eclectic manner.
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- Date Issued: 2008
Retention of medical doctors in the public health sector: a case study of the Port Elizabeth Hospital complex
- Authors: Guvava, Dorothy Dorica
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Employee retention -- Port Elizabeth -- South Africa , Physicians -- Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8221 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/976 , Employee retention -- Port Elizabeth -- South Africa , Physicians -- Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: The Port Elizabeth (PE) hospital complex is one of the public hospital groups in South Africa facing a critical shortage of medical practitioners, with reference to doctors in particular. In the quest of finding how to retain doctors in the hospital complex, the aims of this research were to survey doctors’ career intentions; to investigate factors that could be contributing to these career intentions so as to uncover some of the reasons why doctors are leaving the public sector; and to identify effective ways in which the government and hospitals might improve retention by pointing out areas that need improvement. The factors that influence doctors’ career intention included income, work conditions, risk of contracting infection, risk of injury at work, hours of work, work load, work related stress, paid leave days, resources, personal growth and development opportunities, ongoing training opportunities, advancement and promotion opportunities, relation with co-workers, relations with supervisor/superiors, and sense of meaning. Findings revealed that even though the tendency to leave’ group (43%) was smaller than the ‘tendency to stay’ (57%), the majority (85%) of those who intended to leave were younger doctors. Despite some significant differences in responses between the two groups, results revealed that both groups were dissatisfied with almost all conditions of work apart from relationships with supervisors and co-workers. To a large extent, both groups revealed that work conditions are better in the private hospitals than in their current hospitals. viii The fact that some doctors could stay in the public hospital sector despite intense dissatisfaction with conditions of work, and despite the perception that that there are better options in the private hospitals could be attributed to the fact that most of these doctors are older and are at their retirement stage . Adding to this is that most of these doctors, who indicated willingness to say, scored high in sense of meaning as a factor influencing their career intention. This research was based on the assumption that there was no retention strategy put in place to solve the problems facing PE hospital complex. However, during this research a strategy was being developed and implemented by the Eastern Cape Department of Health. Therefore, evaluation and recommendations of the strategy are provided in the conclusions of the study. These recommendations relate not only to the implementation of the strategy, but improving it to accommodate all problems currently facing the doctors and finding ways and means of making the strategy sustainable; creating private-public partnerships; focusing on creating a sense of meaning amongst the doctors (especially the younger ones) and focusing on retaining the risk group which was the younger doctors.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The assessment of factors contributing to the sustainability of poverty relief projects in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Makhalane, Vuyisile
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8218 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1005 , Economic assistance, Domestic -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The current study aimed at assessing the factors contributing to sustainability of Poverty Relief Projects by the Department of Social Development. The study was conducted in the Eastern Cape within Chris Hani District at Sakhizwe Local Municipality. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Purposive sampling procedures have been seen as most suitable for this study and have been utilized to identify participants of the study. The sample consisted of thirty project members from six different projects and also included five Community Development Practitioners from the Department of Social Development. Semi- structured interviews, document review and focus group discussion were used to collect data for the study. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic methods. The study revealed factors that contribute to the sustainability of the projects. These factors include the capacity of the project members and the departmental officials to implement and monitor the projects. Management and organization of the project plays an important role in determining the sustainability. Active participation of the project members in the planning of the project is important. Stakeholder participation and sharing of expertise is another important factor in determining the sustainability of the projects. Lastly, the study shows that monitoring and evaluation of the progress is necessary to ensure that the project achieve the desired outcome. It is recommended that the Department of Social Development should consider these factors and add them in the checklist before the funding of the project is approved. It is also important to determine the duration of the project in order to be able to measure its impact in a given period of time.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The discursive management of homework practices in three primary schools in Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Felix, Nadine
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Homework -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8464 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/782 , Homework -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: This treatise examines the discursive management of homework practices in three primary schools in Nelson Mandela Bay. Grade four is focused on as it is hoped that at this stage of their schooling, the learners are receiving homework and are familiar with the concept. The three schools are from differing social, historical, political and economic backgrounds. The schools chosen are a former model C school, a ‘Coloured’ school and a ‘Township’ school. These three diverse schools have been selected to identify the dominant Discourses that inform the homework practices. The eventual effect of these Discourses on the learners is also included. The material and personal effects on the learners is discussed. The prevalent Discourses on homework in the model C school, work to produce disciplined subjects who are able to ‘self govern’ and thereby succeed in society. At school’s B and C the dominant Discourses are of a deficit nature. These discursively position the learners as victims and subjects who are unable to manage their academic and private selves, as a result of their circumstance. While the staffs at schools B and C appear to be well intentioned, this abovementioned deficit model is perpetuated by their talk. These principals and teachers need to become aware of the power that their discursive formations contain and the impact thereof. A qualitative methodology is adopted in this study. Three different methods of data collection are employed in order to promote triangulation and thereby increase the validity of the findings. Discourse and Critical Discourse analysis provide the tools with which to analyse and draw conclusions from the gathered data.
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- Date Issued: 2008