The integration of academic skills/support programmes into university department structures: a case study in the sociology of education
- Authors: Drewett, Michael
- Date: 1993
- Subjects: Education, Higher -- South Africa , Compensatory education -- South Africa , Education, Higher , Education -- Philosophy , Rhodes University. Academic Development Programme
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3327 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003115
- Description: This research focuses on the extent to which the Rhodes University Academic Skills Programme (ASP), now known as the Academic Development Programme, is able to act as an agent of progressive change within Rhodes University. In so doing it concentrates on the potential of the strategy of integrated academic development for dealing with the academic needs of university students within the context of South Africa as a society in transition. The candidate considers the inability of structuralist educational theory to account for the potential of human agency at the site of formal education. It is shown that structuralist theories provide deterministic and pessimistic accounts of the role of institutions of formal education. In support of this contention this study explores the history of ASP at Rhodes University, demonstrating that significant change in student academic development has already taken place. ASP has contributed to change within the said University through challenging traditional notions of academic development. This thesis suggests that the non-structuralist critical theory of Jurgen Habermas provides a more holistic account of ASP than do structuralist theories of formal education. Through the incorporation of Habermas's theory of communicative action a process of critical integration is explored, showing that a strategy of integrated academic development has the potential to involve all those who have an interest in university education through a process of rational discourse. This potential is strengthened by the fact that many students and staff have expressed an awareness of the need for an integrated academic development strategy. This thesis subsequently explores the possibility of there being a process of democratic and rational discourse which could lead to a progressive integration programme in the Rhodes University Department of Sociology and Industrial Sociology. This thesis stresses the contested nature of the integration process within departments. It is indicated that Habermas's critical theory is able to account for the changes which have taken place in the past and which are presently under way. It is argued that it not possible to predict future outcomes, but that if ASP pursues a process of rational discourse, it will indeed be able to stimulate a critical integrative approach to academic development in the Rhodes University Department of Sociology and Industrial Sociology.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1993
The role of the industrial social worker in corporate community relations
- Authors: Harnett, Claire F
- Date: 1993
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:21091 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/6342
- Description: This research study is a qualitative investigation of the role of the industrial social worker in corporate community relations. The research study was undertaken by means of mailed questionnaires. Two different populations were utilized, namely corporations known to practice corporate social responsibility and corporations employing industrial social workers. As a background to the research, relations is defined and its Furthermore, the contribution of relations in the realization of a corporate development community traced. corporate community government-business partnership to address community social problems, is discussed. Lastly, in an attempt to demonstrate that the social worker can indeed play a role in corporate community relations, the extent to which corporate community relations goals and approaches correspond with the community organization model of social work practice, is examined. The purpose of the empirical part of the research study was to determine what form community relations has taken in South Africa and the role that the industrial social worker assumes in this regard. From the findings it appears that there is a focus on philanthropic activities and less direct corporate involvement in creating new resources. Industrial social workers involvement in this function was limited. They primarily assumed the roles of consultant and expert. Although these social workers' have laid the ground work for expansion of the industrial social worker's role, it appears that development has been more serendipitous than rationally planned. It appears from the findings that the potential does exist for industrial social workers to assist the corporation to expand its social responsibility programme, and in so doing expand their practice to include macro level intervention strategies. Based on these assumptions, it is suggested that further in-depth research is carried out to establish what strategies are being employed by industrial social workers to expand their roles, it appears that there is a need to assist the industrial social worker to adopt a rationally planned approach in order to assume a greater role in the corporation's social responsibility activities internally and externally.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1993