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1
Hay, Driekie. "Quality considerations in South African higher education." Journal for New Generation Sciences, Vol 2, Issue 2: Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/11462/459.
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Published Article<br>The implementation of quality assurance systems in higher education have never been accepted without debate nor severe critique. This can partially be ascribed to academics' strong views on academic freedom and autonomy. In this paper an admissible distinction between quality assurance and quality enhancement as two entries on a continuum is made.
A plea is made that Southern African higher education institutions should invest in establishing self-reflective practices rather than a culture of compliances. The author concludes that quality enhancement embedded in a self-evaluation approach has the potential to make a contribution towards transforming the South African higher education system in more than one way.
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Ngimwa, Pauline Gachaki. "A collaborative design process for educational digital resources in African higher education." Thesis, Open University, 2012. http://oro.open.ac.uk/54233/.
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Within Africa, access to digital library systems is critical in supporting higher level teaching, learning and research. Currently there is a high demand with inadequate resources which often produces poorly supported learning outcomes. The effectiveness of current resources is further limited by poor design processes, which is worsened by stakeholders (academics, e-learning technologists and digital librarians and designers) often working in isolation. Ultimately, designed resources become less user-centred and sustainable. This thesis sought to provide empirically developed collaborative design process guidance for design stakeholders developing educational digital resources within African higher education. Following a Human Computer Interaction research approach, eleven best practice digital library projects identified from three case studies of African universities (in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa) were investigated. Data was drawn from interviews, observations and an examination of documents. This investigation identified three interrelated factors that impacted on the design process (i. e. human relationships, innovative technologies and policies). The human relationships factor comprised multidisciplinary design stakeholders and included a subset i. e. design champions (multidisciplinary and domain champions) whose role changed the facilitation and eventual output of the other stakeholders in the design process. The multidisciplinary champions took on a participatory approach to engagement while the domain champions assumed an approach that was less engaging. The innovative technologies factor comprised universal technologies and 'flexible' technologies (i. e. Web 2.0 applications and the Open Source Software) which supported the design process and enhanced user-centeredness and sustainability of the projects. Existing institutional and national policies supported stakeholder collaboration and application of the innovative technologies. The absence of any of these factors in the digital library projects weakened the design process and reduced effectiveness of digital resources. These three factors have been used to develop the Collaborative Educational Resources Design (CERD) process model as a guidance tool to support multidisciplinary design stakeholders indesigning effective digital resources.
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Tjabane, Masebala. "Education policy and social justice in higher education : a South African case study." Thesis, Pretoria : [s.n.], 2010. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-04242010-194940.
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Sowazi, Sibongile. "Internationalisation of South African higher education : rationales and implementation." Thesis, University of Bath, 2017. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.760923.
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The primary aim of the study is to analyse the South African higher education sector’s understanding and implementation of the internationalisation of higher education, in conjunction with the identification of commonalities, variations and disparities in their activities. This entails the following supporting objectives: 1) understanding of internationalisation in the higher education institutions of South Africa selected for the study; 2) exploring the rationales and approaches undertaken in internationalisation in these particular higher education institutions; and 3) comparing the similarities and divergences of these entities’ internationalisation implementation strategies. The study employed qualitative research techniques; this was influenced by the researcher’s social constructivist stance, in combination with the qualitative investigatory methods, which were the most appropriate for the resolution of the research questions. Secondary data was collected from institutional policy documents, progress reports and websites. Primary data was collected through individual, semi-structured interviews. A comparison across three case studies yielded insights into the way internationalisation of teaching and learning is approached and implemented. All three case studies appear to regard internationalisation as a significant component of their business and activities. However, each institution adopts and interprets internationalisation in diverse manners, in conjunction with prioritising and contrasting different rationales. From the findings, some recommendations were derived for consideration by policy makers and practitioners in higher education institutions. This study has contributed to the body of knowledge by developing a practical tool that may assist in initiating and implementing international partnerships.
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Smit, Patricia Elizabeth. "Leadership in South African higher education : a multifaceted conceptualisation." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2006. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/10020515/.
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This thesis explores the meaning of leadership in the context of higher education in South Africa, a society in transition. The higher education system in the country is in a process of change from being fragmented and segregated, to being a democratic one, guided by various policies. Within this facilitative environment, very little is said about leadership yet 'leadership' has been blamed in many instances where things have gone wrong. This qualitative study consisting of semi-structured interviews with middlelevel academic leaders, reveals inequalities in terms of who is leading at that level. The study also reveals an awareness of the existence of these inequities among the manager-leaders; they do, however, hold two distinct viewpoints about the causes of these inequities. A feminist and poststructuralist framework is used to analyse specific dimensions of the manager-leaders' understandings and practices of leadership. In the absence of a defined discourse of leadership, the manager-leaders are drawing on their own personal experiences of how they have been and are led and their own practices of how they lead in order to conceptualise leadership and what constitutes a leader. The study shows that the managerleaders understand leadership as a combination of leadership practice, i.e. how it is being enacted and their notions of characteristics desired in leaders. Their descriptions of leadership seem to be characterised by relational elements. In addition, the findings show that race and gender have specific implications for leadership; from a racial perspective additional roles are added to the general identified leadership practices while a gender perspective reveals several invisible leadership aspects. The thesis therefore describes leadership as an activity or process influenced by contextual elements: historical imperatives, organisational factors, and personal and group constructs, such as race and gender.
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Tollerson, Latrice Jones. "Challenges of African American Female Veterans Enrolled in Higher Education." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6139.
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African American women represent 19% of the 2.1 million living female veterans. They are the largest minority group among veteran women; however, little is known about the challenges that they face when they transition to a postsecondary learning environment. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand better how this cohort of veterans who served in the U.S. Army during military campaigns in the Middle East overcame transitional challenges to higher education. This study utilized Schlossberg's adult transition theory and identity formation as described in Josselson's theory of identity development in women. The focus of this study was on how female veterans constructed meaning as they overcame transitional challenges and coped with change. The research questions focused on understanding the perceived social, emotional, and financial needs and discerning to what extent faculty and staff helped or hindered their academic success. Purposeful sampling strategies were used to select 12 veteran African American females who attend higher education to participate in semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis of the data indicated that being a better role model and provider; facing financial difficulties; and balancing home, school, and career were among the key findings. These findings on challenges of African American female veterans' experiences can be used to inform university administrators, state employment agencies, the Army's Soldier for Life Transition Program, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This study contributes to positive social change by providing understanding to institutions of higher education regarding the transitional experiences of African American female veterans and the need to implement programs to assist them better.
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Tsephe, Lifutso. "A Capabilities Approach to African Women’s Success in Doctoral Programmes in South Africa." Thesis, University of Pretoria, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/80526.
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There are many documented reasons why both men and women fail to complete their doctoral studies such as insufficient funding, family responsibilities as well as demotivation due to lack of progress in their research (Herman, 2011c, Gardner, 2008, Magano, 2011). However, it is arguable that men are at an advantage of completing their doctoral studies at a higher rate compared to women, partly due to the masculine culture within higher education institutions, which includes aspects such as having more male senior lecturers/academics (Brown and Watson, 2010, Ismail, 2011, Haake, 2011). Several studies have shown how African women’s experience and performance in doctoral studies are impacted by several relations within the learning environment such as lack of role models, mentorship, insufficient funding, dual identities and masculine environment (Brown and Watson, 2010, Johnson-Bailey, Velentine, Cervero, and Bowles, 2008). Despite such obstacles, it is important to mention that there are some women, who successfully complete their doctoral studies. This study, therefore, aims to focus on African women who have successfully completed their doctoral studies in South Africa in order to bring forth positive narratives of African women’s success in doctoral education. Using the capabilities approach as the analytical framework, and in-depth interviews with fourteen selected African women doctoral graduates from a South African university, this study examines women’s experiences of accessing, participating and progressing through doctoral programmes in higher education. The research adopts an interpretative model, which results in principles that are necessary for interpreting the actions and behaviours of people, such as agency, opportunities, and beings and doings in seeking to answer the following questions: 1) What capabilities using the capabilities approach enabled African women, doctoral students’ success in higher education? 2) What functionings did African women, doctoral graduates hope for after completion of their doctoral studies? 3) How did African women use their agency to develop capabilities (opportunities and freedoms) for academic success? 4) What conversion factors enabled or constrained African women’s success in their doctoral journeys?<br>Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2021.<br>Education Management and Policy Studies<br>PhD<br>Unrestricted
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Mason, Gregory K. "The Role of Mentoring in Developing Future African American Community College Presidents." Thesis, Indiana Wesleyan University, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10930282.
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<p> American community colleges are facing the dual dilemma of replacing the increasing number of presidents who are retiring, and promoting more diversity among their successors. Mentoring is viewed as a way of helping minority faculty and administrators acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to advance successfully into senior leadership roles. This study utilized a mixed-methods phenomenological approach to explore the differences in the perceptions of preparedness for their first presidency among Black/African-American community college presidents, who were mentored through an afro-centric leadership development program; other formal, national leadership programs, or mentored informally. The study was framed by five research questions exploring possible differences in participants’ backgrounds, career paths, and perceived impact of mentoring. Survey findings revealed few demographic differences among the respondents. Themes emerging from qualitative interviews of 12 randomly selected presidents indicated differences in perception regarding the impact of the psychosocial and career development aspects of mentoring in preparing for the presidency. The study identified the importance of context in determining the types of mentored relationships, and may offer insights regarding the role of mentoring in developing future minority presidents.</p><p>
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Ogude, Nthabiseng Audrey. "The imperative of good education in our time: unlocking the doors of education in higher education." e-TUT, 2012. http://encore.tut.ac.za/iii/cpro/DigitalItemViewPage.external?sp=1000649.
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Installation speech by the Vice-Chancellor and Principal designate of Tshwane University of Technology, Prof Nthabiseng Ogude, on 22 November 2012.<br>Inauguration speech by the Vice-Chancellor and Principal designate of Tshwane University of Technology, Prof Nthabiseng Ogude, on 22 November 2012 in which she accepted responsibility of Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Tshwane University of Technology
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Allen, William L. "The Demise of Industrial Education for African Americans: ||Revisiting the Industrial Curriculum in Higher Education." Wright State University / OhioLINK, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1189474472.
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Babers-Henry, Markeshia M. "Psychological and physical health predictors of academic achievement for African American college students." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1590906.
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<p> The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify psychological and physical health factors that influence African American college students' academic achievement using secondary data from the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA). Using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, this study explored the influence of health variables on African American college students' academic experiences. Independent sample t-tests were used to analyze gender differences between African American female and male college students. Factor analyses and a Logistic regression was used to ascertain the influence of psychological and physical health factors on African American college students' academic achievement. Findings of this study highlight personal health issues, future help-seeking behavior, and impeding emotional experiences as significant predictors of academic achievement for all African American students. Implications for practice and recommendations for future research are reviewed.</p>
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Laryea, Evans A. "The Role of Higher Education in Africa: a Study of the Attitude of African Educators Toward the Tananarive Recommendations." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1989. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc332208/.
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This study concerns the perceptions of African educators concerning the role of higher education in Africa. The study investigates African educators' awareness, understanding, opinions, and reactions to the role of higher education as defined by the Tananarive Conference on the development of higher education in Africa. The data were collected through personal interviews with 80 educators affiliated with the universities of the English—speaking countries in Middle Africa.
The findings of the study reveal that (a) the Tananarive recommendations are still realistic and relevant to the African situation; (b) African educators agree that universities in Africa must contribute to the definition and development of African economic, social, and cultural goals; (c) African universities are judged mainly by how successfully their objectives and achievements improve society; (d) the critical problems confronting the African universities are finance, colonial origin, attachment to metropolitan models and standards, training of staff in overseas institutions, brain drain, and government interference; and (e) mutual trust and understanding of role-expectation between African governments and universities is required for universities to fulfill their developmental role in African societies.
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Njenga, James Kariuki. "eLearning adoption in Eastern and Southern African higher education institutions." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2011. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_6996_1303979330.
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<p>This research was undertaken to propose a model for eLearning adoption in Higher Education in Africa and to identify and empirically test measures to assess the model. The model identified eLearning, individual and organisational factors affecting eLearning adoption in higher education. eLearning factors were deemed to be aligned with the individual and organisational factors and therefore, the measurement of individual and organisational factors of eLearning adoption is essential in determining the current state, and future development that could enhance eLearning adoption in higher education. This study is a first attempt in Africa to define and present a conceptualization of an eLearning adoption framework. The framework is a combination of frameworks and models from various disciplines, including social psychology, information systems, anthropology, sociology, education, communication, marketing, management, geography, economics and cognitive psychology. These frameworks for eLearning adoption in Higher Education are synergised and contextualised in the study.</p>
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Garnett, Andrea. "Creativity barriers in South African higher education institution / Andrea Garnett." Thesis, North-West University, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/2365.
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Freeman, Pamela Telia Barber. "Presidential profiles in higher education : perspectives from African American women /." Full-text version available from OU Domain via ProQuest Digital Dissertations, 1993.
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Grant, Terry Vincent. "African American Males' Perception of the Barriers in Higher Education." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/7383.
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Individuals who earn a college degree increase their chances of stable employment and decrease their chances of committing crimes. Fewer African American males earn college degrees compared to European American, Asian American, and Hispanic American males. The purpose of this qualitative, multiple case study was to explore how barriers to education are developed, how they affect the education of African American males, and how those perceived barriers may be overcome. This study was framed by 2 theories: Steele and Aronson's stereotype threat and McClelland, Atkinson, Clark, and Lowell's achievement motivation. The six participants for this study were male college graduates who self-identified as African American. The participants were recruited through social media invitations and referrals. An invitation to participate was posted to social media sites LinkedIn and Facebook. Participants were asked to respond to the social media invitation and complete a Survey Monkey questionnaire. The participants were selected based on two indicators; the geographic location between Beaufort South Carolina and Jacksonville Florida and having a college graduation date within the past 2 years. The participants revealed barriers of focus, disability, family schedule, and disability. The African American males who participated in this study used support systems of family, classmates, and the university faculty and staff to overcome their barriers. The findings from this study may provide educators, students, and parents with information on the barriers to higher education for African American males and some of the strategies used to overcome them. The information gained from this study may allow educators to make changes to the curriculum. Parents may understand how to approach school issues with their children, and students will have strategies to help them overcome similar barriers.
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Naidoo, Anban. "Student funding at a South African institution of higher education." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/52272.
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Higher education is linked to economic mobility, but demand to fund access to university exceeds supply in South Africa, and elsewhere in the world. Thus, universities are pressed to ensure that in a situation of limited funds, funding is allocated in a strategic and prudent manner. However, little work has been undertaken in this field, and, as such, this study represents an attempt to fill the gap. The purpose of this research was to explore the current student funding model, to gain an understanding the current funding challenges and attempt to find ways in which funding decisions can be improved. The study is limited to one institution of higher education in South Africa, and, as such the results may not be generalizable. A mixed methods approach was used. The qualitative portion focused on establishing what were (1) the current model, (2) the criteria used, (3) the challenges encountered, (4) funding s ability to aid epistemological success and (5) stakeholder management. Interviews were conducted with senior staff involved in a range of student support directorates including Finance, Client Services, Recruitment and Information Technology. The quantitative portion focused on exploring the links between (1) the current criteria and success, (2) student funding and success, and (3) residence placement and success. This sample included all (8099) undergraduates for the 2011 cohort year and tracked them over a period of three years. Results of the study show that student funding is complex and challenging. In terms of academic criteria, the Grade Point Average was found to be the best predictor of success. However, the presence and value of funding does not guarantee success or even improve student performance, whereas the placement of a student in residence generates a statistically significant improvement in performance. Thus, student funding cannot be simply directed at individuals, as a portion must be allocated to student support initiatives such as residence; tutoring; cultural integration; mentorship and early warning systems.<br>Mini-disseration (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015.<br>nk2016<br>Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)<br>MBA<br>Unrestricted
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Bosire, Samuel Mobisa. "A sustainability reporting framework for South African Higher Education Institutions." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1016126.
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Sustainability has gained prominence globally among nations, regions and organisations as a result of factors such as the effects of climate change on the environment, diminishing natural resources and rising population growth with their concomitant impact on economies and social systems. South Africa is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) that promotes international principles and best practices on sustainable development. Sustainability Reporting is one such best practice. Sustainability Reporting is imperative for good governance and organisations are now expected to support sustainability issues, risks and performance in a balanced and reasonable way. The United Nations and other global bodies have been in the vanguard in promoting guidelines for sustainability reporting with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) being the most Prominent Sustainability reporting guideline. The South African Higher Education Institutions generate a number of reports in the course of any given academic year. As has been the case in the global corporate world, failures in governance in some South African universities point to weaknesses in their governance, especially when it comes to oversight of the operations of institutions. Considering this, it is important to critically examine strategic planning processes to understand the aspects that are important for the survival of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and therefore they should be regularly and closely monitored. The study begins by exploring literature relating to strategic planning, governance, sustainability reporting practices and Business Intelligence (BI) technologies in Higher Education. The primary objective of the investigation is to propose a sustainability reporting framework for Higher Education Institutions in South Africa. It is argued that with the aid of appropriate BI tools, the proposed Sustainability Reporting framework would be useful in tracking progress in the implementation of strategic plans and at the same time strengthen governance in institutions. The study identified elements of Sustainability Reporting that are important for strategic planning. To develop the proposed framework, an empirical investigation was undertaken. Four online questionnaires were completed and returned by 108 participants comprising of Registrars and Information Managers at 23 South African Higher Education Institutions as well as to Information Managers in selected International Higher Education Institutions and Managers at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). The online questionnaires were developed to elicit information to include in the proposed framework. To analyse results, both descriptive and inferential statistics such as Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used. Results from the surveys revealed that Higher Education Institutions globally and in South Africa are grappling with the same issues. When it comes to Sustainability Reporting, factors such as information culture and Business Intelligence maturity levels were not found to be very different among the various institutions. In the case study at NMMU, correlational analysis confirmed that variables such as Management buying and the availability of BI reports were positively related to effective strategic planning and vice versa. Similarly, a strong correlation was observed between reporting guidelines and strategic planning. Moreover, the study highlighted the critical role of management and leadership in a university in creating an environment that supports Sustainability Reporting. In conclusion, it was recommended that efforts should be directed at creating awareness and at training staff on aspects that promote sustainability. It is incumbent upon the institution to take advantage of and promote technological tools and techniques to enable the easy flow of data and information in understandable and usable formats to all its stakeholders. Finally, a Framework for Sustainability Reporting for Higher Education Institutions (FSRHEI) and guidelines for implementing Sustainability Reports are proposed.
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Guiffrida, Douglas A. "African American college students perceptions of success at a predominantly White institution." Related electronic resource: Current Research at SU : database of SU dissertations, recent titles available full text, 2002. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/syr/main.
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Johnson, Ane Turner. "Mobilizing Higher Education for Development in Africa: A Case Study of the Association of African Universities." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/26510.
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Higher education scholars note an abundance of obstacles that render higher education institutions in developing countries ineffectual and unable to participate in the intentional development of their societies (Ajayi, Goma & Johnson, 1996; Altbach, 2004; Bloom, Canning & Chan, 2006; Dill, 1997; Lulat, 2003; Puplampu, 2006; Sawyerr, 2003; Selvaratnam, 1988; Teferra & Altbach, 2004). African higher education has been particularly sensitive to these obstacles, due to the consequences of colonialism, globalization and neocolonialism, and efforts to combat these impediments to development have often been undermined by scarcity at the state level (Altbach, 2001; Bloom, et. al., 2006; Bollag, 2001; Ngome, 2003; Puplampu, 2006; TFHE, 2000; Tikly, 2001). Yet recent initiatives, such as the United Nations Development Programme's Millennium Development Goals (2000), reveal that higher education institutions have an important role to play in development, particularly in developing nations. Therefore new forms of higher education associations should be considered to bolster an institution's ability to support development in its national context and cultivate agency in development. Regional efforts through networks may have the capability to overcome paucities at the national level and direct development in Africa. The present study was designed to explore notions of development and the role of the Association of African Universities (AAU) a higher education network, in promoting development. It also examined how faculty and administrators at two African universities perceive development.
My findings indicated that through the lens of policy entrepreneurship, the AAU, as a higher education network, acted as an agent in development by undertaking activities aimed at addressing development priorities when using higher education as a point of intervention. By sustaining creative, strategic, and mobilization activities across organizational initiatives, the AAU generated sponsorship for their policy solutions among stakeholders. In fact the participatory nature of policy entrepreneurship may allow higher education networks to put the "African" in African development as they respond to community needs and attempt to adapt policy innovations to fit African development challenges.
Data from Kenyatta University and the University of Nairobi in Kenya illuminated how university reforms at both institutions reflect academic capitalism, a phenomenon researched predominately in developed countries. Faculty and administrators' personally held beliefs about development and the university's role in development in Kenya have impacted the way that academic capitalism is both perceived and manifested. In the West, the infusion of academic capitalism in higher education has come at the expense of the public good. In Kenya, a new model has emerged in which both development and marketization are served and are complementary. This study also demonstrates that academic capitalism can also produce social and cultural "revenue," particularly when the individuals that make up the academic workforce of an institution prioritize development needs.<br>Ph. D.
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Warner, Nan. "Impact of a partnership programme of African universities: A study of the perceptions of a group of white South African academics of their learning experiences." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2004. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&.
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This research project was an in-depth case study, an investigation of a small sample of white South African male academics from the University of Cape Town who were part of the USHEPiA (University Science, Humanities, and Engineering Partnerships in Africa) initiative. The project investigated these University of Cape Town academics experiences and perceptions of another African country and university, and considered the effect that this might have had on the academic's own life.
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Malatji, Mapula Martha. "Telematic tuition in a South African higher education institution : a case study." Thesis, University of Limpopo, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/2079.
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Fregoso, Julio. "Through the pipeline| Degree aspirations of African American and Latino males enrolled in California community colleges." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1590911.
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<p> This quantitative study examined the transfer and degree aspirations of African-American and Latino males enrolled in California community colleges. Carter's (2002) theoretical and conceptual framework on the degree aspirations of African-American and Latino students was utilized to frame this study. Using secondary data from CCSSE, t-tests, factor analyses and logistic regression analyses were completed to compare the experiences of African American and Latino males and predict their transfer and degree aspirations. Findings include that self-reported data on GPA, obtaining or updating job skills, changing careers, and institutional size were predictors of associate degree aspirations. For the outcome transfer aspirations, predictors were race, sources used to pay for their tuition, and experiences that contributed to their academic, cognitive, and technical skills at the community college. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.</p>
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Berry, Ruben Dean. "Athletic commodities: The African-American male student-athlete in higher education." Diss., The University of Arizona, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/279889.
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Most of the focus and support given to student-athletes is during the time of eligibility. After the eligibility expires, some of these athletes disconnect themselves from the athletic department and become a mere memory of the past. The myriad of unique challenges facing former student-athletes who have not graduated or retired from sports are well documented. Dexter Manley of the Washington Redskins tearfully told a U.S. Senate panel on illiteracy that despite his four years at Oklahoma State University, he had neither graduated nor learned to read. Kevin Ross, former basketball player who did not graduate, complained on national TV talk shows that he had never learned to read in four years at Creighton University (Byers, 1995). To alleviate some of the problems, I decided to focus my study on the college experiences of African-American student-athletes to better understand the complexities that they encounter during and after their athletic scholarship. The long-term objective is to establish a service oriented, salubrious program for former student athletes once their eligibility expires along with their retirement from sport. After perusing a myriad of reports of the exploitation of student-athletes in the revenue producing sports, the research questions became: Are these accounts typical? Universal? Do most athletes experience exploitation and abuse? African-Americans more than other racial groups? How representative are these commentaries of the actual sports experiences of college sport participants? In this investigation I will focus on African-American college athletes' attitudes, opinions, experiences, and perceptions surrounding exploitation.
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Wright, Brenda W., Donald W. Good, and Jim Lampley. "Persistence in Learning: Expectations and Experiences of African American Students in Predominately White Universities." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2011. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/3001.
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This study addressed the academic, cultural, and social expectations and experiences of 20 African American juniors and seniors at two predominantly White universities in the Southern Appalachian region of the United States. The participants’ described experiences revealed how institutional practices promoted or obstructed their persistence to graduation. Findings indicated a dissonance between the students’ academic, cultural, and social expectations and experiences primarily caused by unanticipated racist experiences in the classrooms, on the campuses, and in the campus communities-at-large. Positive relationships with administrators, faculty members, and staff emerged as the most significant contributors to the students’ capability to safely and successfully navigate academic, social, and cultural pathways leading to graduation. Recommendations based on the results of the study are provided for university administrators, faculty, and staff who are committed to improving the college experience and persistence to graduation rates for students of color matriculating at predominantly White universities
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Ruth, Damian William. "Research, education and management in South Africa." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.311814.
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Hussein, Hassen. "The Teacher-Student Interactions and Academic Achievement of African American and African Immigrant Males." Thesis, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, 2017. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10267844.
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<p> This quantitative survey questionnaires study compared the teacher-student interactions (TSI) and academic achievement of African-American and African immigrant undergraduate males. The academic achievement gap between different population groups provided the impetus for the study. While African Americans have been described as under-achievers in the literature, their African immigrant counterparts have at times been dubbed a model minority. However, studies on differences in TSI between the two groups are scant. Students’ perceptions of TSI were assessed using two existing instruments, the <i>Experience with Faculty Scale and Student-Professor Interaction Scale.</i> Grade Point Average (GPA) was used as proxy for academic achievement. Traditional (ages 18-24) undergraduate Black male students at an Upper-Midwestern university constituted the population for the study. With a sample size of sixty (n1=30, n2=30), hypothesis testing was done using Chi-Square, the Fisher Exact test with Freeman-Halton extension, and Ordered Logistic Regression. Although the study did not show statistically significant differences in TSI as well as academic achievement between the two groups, it revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in how often students discussed their career plans and academic ambitions with faculty. Moreover, contrary to prior literature; African immigrants in this study did not significantly outperform African Americans on self-reported GPA—casting doubt on the depiction of African immigrants as a monolithic group and a hyper successful model minority. Two incidental and yet important findings also emerged from the study. First, among students reporting having positive TSI, African immigrants were twice as likely as African Americans to describe it as very strong. Second, only one-fourth of the participants hailed from non-college-educated households. The meaning of the findings and implications for higher education are discussed. </p>
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Ferreira, Marie. "A framework for continuous improvement in the South African Higher Education Sector." Thesis, Pretoria : [s.n.], 2003. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-07062004-084502.
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Van, Gensen Garth Allister. "A model for branding practices in a new South African Higher Education landscape." Thesis, Bloemfontein : Central University of Technology, Free State, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/11462/58.
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Thesis (D. Tech.) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2005<br>Distinctive challenges are currently facing South African higher education institutions. Among others they are funding; quality assurance; globalisation; the emergence of private higher education; the idea of an entrepreneurial university as an alternative; enrolment capping; as well as merged and incorporated institutions. It is critical that these challenges be addressed urgently.
However, the lack of proper marketing and branding strategies at institutions of higher learning in view of the new unfolding national and international landscape, leaves much to be desired. In the past, branding of higher education in South Africa was not an area of priority, because higher education operated in a protected, regulated market with a steady income. The current higher education scenario necessitates higher education institutions to revisit their branding strategies as a means to grapple with the distinctive challenges facing them with the purpose of enhancing quality; delivering graduates to the world of work; as well as being relevant by being responsive to society and the economic needs of the country in order to adhere to the outcomes of the National Plan for Higher Education (NPHE) (RSA DoE 2001).
A thorough literature study involving current and relevant literature on branding and branding practices was undertaken, after which a mainly qualitative research approach was followed. Focus group interviews at two entrepreneurial universities abroad; informal conversation interviews at seven South African higher education institutions; as well as a case study were conducted. Participant observation in the workplace relating to branding and branding practices also took place. The constant comparative method of data analysis was used to capture recurring patterns and themes during the research process.
What became evident from the literature was that branding strategies of higher education institutions are generally restricted to informing and visual identity. The results of a survey done in 2004 by UNITECH, a body representing marketing and communication units of universities and former technikons (currently Universities of Technology) in South Africa, was also quite significant for this study. The following deductions regarding marketing and communication practices at South African higher education institutions could be made from this survey: There is a lack of an integrated marketing approach; executive management lacks understanding of branding practices; there is a lack of strategy with regard to marketing and branding; as well as a lack of internal communication. These deductions were consistent with the researcher’s own observations and are also confirmed by the informal conversation interviews held at the seven South African higher education institutions as part of the empirical investigation. The case study to highlight the branding practices of a higher education institution in the central region revealed that the implementation phase focused strongly on external/outward exercises, and that the internalisation aspects of their branding were narrowed to information only. The new visual identity of the institution was emphasised, whilst the internal processes remained the same as always.
The aforementioned aspects are an indication that South African higher education institutions need to re-visit their internal practices. A market orientation mindset is of crucial importance for higher education institutions in South Africa to move towards an entrepreneurial mindset. The Universities of Warwick (England) and Twente (the Netherlands) were selected for this study as a result of the astounding successes they have achieved with their entrepreneurial activities. According to the respondents from both universities, the following aspects – among others - are extremely important for their successes: visionary leadership; an integrated entrepreneurial culture; a focus on external as well as internal communication; and relevance.
The primary purpose of this study was to develop a model for South African higher education institutions which would ultimately result in brand enhancement of institutions that would be perceived as relevant and society-minded to live up to the challenges of the new and changing landscape in South Africa. The proposed model in this study is based on two overarching fundamentals, namely the experience economy and its relatedness to brand, as well as relevance and branding, which should be an integrated approach that could ultimately lead to successful external branding.
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Rankhumise, EM, FG Netswera, and TR Mavundla. "Employee retention factors for South African higher education institutions: a case study." South African Journal of Human Resource Management, 2005. http://encore.tut.ac.za/iii/cpro/DigitalItemViewPage.external?sp=1000924.
Full textAbstract:
The success of the most competitive companies throughout the world, including higher education institutions, lies
in their highly skilled employees on which these institutions spend millions to retain. Literature reveals the cost of
losing best employees to be enormous – beyond monetary quantification. Also worth noting is that the loss of one
competent employee to a competitor institution strengthens the competitor’s advantage. This case study analysed
human resources turnover data, and interviewed academic managers and employees in order to examine the possible
employee retention factors for a higher education institution in South Africa. The findings reveal different
institutional interests between institutional managers and employees. The former are concerned more about profits,
business sustenance and justification for spending, while the latter are driven by introverted interests such as
development, monetary rewards and personal fulfilment.
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Gouws, Jeanine. "An analysis of current East African higher education systems and institutions." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/785.
Full textAbstract:
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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Steyn, M. G., and G. D. Kamper. "Barriers to learning in South African higher education : some photovoice perspectives." Journal for New Generation Sciences, Vol 9, Issue 1: Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/11462/582.
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Published Article<br>South Africa underwent political reform in 1994 from an apartheid government to a democratic state. Former white universities, known for their high standards and academic excellence, experienced an influx of black students who previously were excluded from these institutions. This article reports on a study which investigated the extent of learning barriers that previously disadvantaged black students at a renowned higher education institution experience, and endeavours to determine the learning support they need in order to succeed academically. A qualitative approach was followed and data were gathered by means of focus group interviews and participants' photo portfolios. The data were interpreted with reference to recent perceptions on adult learning, particularly in the African context. Implications for higher education in general are indicated.
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Wright, Brenda W., Don Good, and Jim Lampley. "Expectations and Experiences of African American Students at Two Predominantly White Universities in Southern Appalachia." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2010. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/3042.
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Walters, Cyrill. "Design and validation of a leadership model for South African higher education." Doctoral thesis, University of Cape Town, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/28363.
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Although universities have not historically focused on their own organisational leadership as a subject of academic enquiry, there has been much academic substantiation of leadership knowledge as theory. My PhD dissertation was designed to explore the current typology of leadership in South African universities and to validate a conceptual model proposed in the dissertation. The model is based on complexity science and Ken Wilber’s theory of holism, and employs such key concepts as values, personal development, and mechanistic and holistic performance. The rationale for this study was the researcher’s desire to explore the qualities required of those in higher education leadership positions, in order for them to meet demands to widen access to education as well as to contribute to the social, cultural, and economic development of South Africa. The selected sample was composed of personnel occupying the senior management positions of Vice-Chancellor (VC) and/or Principal and/or Rector; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) and/or Vice-Principal; and Faculty Dean. The primary data collection methods were both quantitative and qualitative. The quantitative results of the Cassandra© survey and the qualitative findings utilizing semi-structured interviews were merged at the interpretation stage. The data were analysed, coded, and organized according to the research questions. Significant findings were that the current funding crisis was a major challenge within the sector; however, fee-free higher education for all in the current economic context is neither equitable nor likely to be affordable in the medium term. The research revealed weakness in the understanding and practice of diversity within the sector. The strengths of staff who work directly with leaders were found to be wanting, as they are not always adequately skilled to do their jobs. Innovation was not a priority for leadership and the sector did very little to provide the space for innovation. Complexity science provides a useful tool for the analysis of leadership in higher education. Finally, a cogent model of leadership for South African higher education institutions is described, synthesized and presented.
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Phillips, Adrienne Louise. "Keepin' it real the black male's (dis) ability to achieve in higher education /." Greensboro, N.C. : University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2007. http://libres.uncg.edu/edocs/etd/1447Phillips/umi-uncg-1447.pdf.
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Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2007.<br>Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Feb. 28, 2008). Directed by Hephzibah Roskelly; submitted to the Dept. of English. Includes bibliographical references (p. 136-144).
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Chandler-Melton, Jamiyla. "Factors that Impact African American High School Equivalency (HSE) Students' Pursuit of Higher Education." ScholarWorks, 2016. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/2474.
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African Americans account for a disproportionate percentage of students who pursue college education in comparison to European Americans. Indeed, a considerable number of African American High School Equivalency (HSE) students are not enrolling in college once they earn their HSE diploma. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine 3 African American HSE students' perceptions about factors that influenced their pursuit of higher education at the selected HSE study site. These 3 students were selected for their inclusion because of their ethnicity, enrollment in the HSE program, academic underpreparedness and lack of pursuit of higher education, and strong feelings to share about the phenomenon under study. The theoretical framework was based on Vygotsky's sociocultural theory of human learning. The research question focused on assessing African American HSE students' lack of pursuit of higher education. Semistructured focus group interview and individual interview data were thematically analyzed using open-coding. Findings revealed that participants believed the lack of high school credentials, family background, intrinsic motivation and educational values, sociocultural influences, teacher and peer influence, and socioeconomic factors impacted their pursuit of higher education. A professional development project was developed based on study findings to provide HSE educators with training on the HSE exam, Common Core State Standards, and best practices to enrich the academic achievement of African American HSE students at the study site. Results have implications for positive social change among African American HSE students by emphasizing the importance of higher education on educational, sociocultural, professional, and personal advancement.
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Pollard, Gloria Joan. "The role of higher education in African-American community development : perceptions from Green Pastures /." Full-text version available from OU Domain via ProQuest Digital Dissertations, 1993.
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de, Jager J., and G. Gbadamosi. "Specific remedy for specific problem: measuring service quality in South African higher education." Springer, 2009. http://encore.tut.ac.za/iii/cpro/DigitalItemViewPage.external?sp=1001436.
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Abstract
This study commences a process of developing a scale for the measurement of
service quality in higher education in South Africa and also examines the relationship
between the measures of service quality on the one hand and some other related variables
such as intention to leave the university, trust in management of the university and the
overall satisfaction with the university. Using structured questionnaires, survey data was
collected from students (n = 391) in two South African universities. Findings indicate that
the 52-item measure of service quality in higher education is a multidimensional construct
loading on 13 factors with a high reliability coefficient (0.93) and some construct validity.
Significant relationships were also found between service quality in HE and other study
variables—intention to leave university, trust in management of the university and overall
satisfaction with the university. Some further research directions were suggested and
policy implications of findings discussed.
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Forh, Edward S. "Stakeholders' Roles in Prioritizing Technical and Vocational Education and Training in PostConflict Liberia." ScholarWorks, 2011. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/1178.
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Postconflict governments and counterparts have collaborated to provide skills training to communities as a critical postconflict development strategy. In these undertakings, the role of community members remains largely undefined. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to understand the perceptions held by rural community members regarding the role they played in influencing government's policy priority for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) as a local human development strategy in postconflict Liberia. The conceptual framework was based on human capital theory and concepts of motivation and achievement. Fourteen participants were purposefully selected for the study. Data were collected from interviews, focus group discussion, and documents and analyzed using constant comparison. Results indicated that increasing human capital, restoring self-esteem, encouraging civic participation, and building peace were among the community members' motivations for establishing a skills training institution. Leadership, advocacy, and ownership were major roles community stakeholders played in establishing their local skill training institution; voluntarism and collaboration were found to be strategies for support to the local TVET initiatives. Findings have positive social change implications for facilitating community-initiated TVET programs for youth employment as well as informing TVET policies in countries transitioning from conflict to development.
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Sky, Lark Taj'ullah X. "From homeschool to college| Exploring transition experiences of homeschooled African American students at Predominantly White Institutions." Thesis, Hampton University, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3629586.
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<p> There is a gap in the research aimed at exploring the college transition experiences of homeschooled African Americans into Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). The past research has been rudimentary, demographically limited, and anecdotal with predominantly White homeschoolers as research subjects. This qualitative study explored the transition experiences of eight homeschooled African American students into PWIs guided by Tinto's student transition theory. The study found the transition experience of homeschooled African Americans into college and university learning environments of PWIs consisted of typical transitional experiences common to most college students learning the culture of a new environment. This study also found that while homeschooled African Americans faced similar transition challenges as identified by established empirical research on the experience of African American college students attending PWIs, these challenges were not barriers to their academic success or retention.</p>
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George, Terrance Christopher. "Perceptions of African-American Males on Retention: Two Focus Groups." TopSCHOLAR®, 2011. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1086.
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The intent of this study was to identify the issues that impact the retention of African-American, Black males in college. The study was of two small focus groups comprised of African-American students of various grade classifications from a regional comprehensive university in the southeast. These focus groups were comprised of up to but no more than six students. The decision on the group size was made to allow all of the students’ ample opportunity to respond to the eight questions used in the focus groups. The student groups attended the university main campus as well as the university South Campus where developmental courses are taught. The students were from both rural and urban backgrounds, as well as single parent and traditional family backgrounds.
Various themes emerged as a result of this study which includes: importance of family support prior to college and during the student’s college career. Additionally, the role of mentors was identified as affecting the student’s retention in college. There was also discussion of how Black males are viewed on campus by other Black students, as well as other students and the faculty and staff.
It can be concluded that several factors have affected the retention of this small group of African-American males in higher education. The information gathered shows that family support is a key cog in the retention of this group; in addition, the role of mentors in their education was very important to this group of students.
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Johnson, Demetrius Pargo. "Predicting Academic Achievement of African American Undergraduate Men Attending Private Historically Black Colleges or Universities." Thesis, University of Phoenix, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10846200.
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<p> The correlational study focused on the relationship between academic achievement and mattering theory of African American undergraduate men attending private historically black colleges or universities. The 45 question <i> Mattering Scales Questionnaire for College Students</i> (Kettle, 2001) instrument was administered to (N = 75) undergraduate African American men attending a private historically black college in the southeastern United States. The results indicated a positive relationship between interactions with the administration and academic achievement. The findings also suggested undergraduate African American men attending historically black college or universities expressed unfavorable or neutral perceptions of mattering toward historically black colleges or universities.</p><p>
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Drummond, Urvi. "Music education in South African Schools after apartheid : teacher perceptions of Western and African music." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2015. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/6298/.
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The South African classroom music curriculum has changed in the twenty years since the transition from apartheid to democracy in 1994. The broad imperative for the main music education policy shifts is a political agenda of social transformation and reconciliation. Policy aims are to include many more learners in the music classroom by promoting the study of diverse musics that were previously marginalised and by providing a framework for music education that allows learners to progress at their own pace. This research study investigated to what extent music teachers are able and likely to fulfil the requirements of the new, post-apartheid curriculum, with particular reference to the National Curriculum Statement music policies (NCS). Specifically, it considered whether teachers have a particular allegiance to Western and/or African music. Twelve South African music teachers were interviewed for this purpose. The latest music curriculum revision in the form of the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS, 2011) has modified knowledge content by streaming music into three distinct but parallel genres. In addition to Western music, the curriculum incorporates Indigenous African music and Jazz as representative of the diverse cultural interests of South Africans. An analysis of post-apartheid music policy documents draws on post-colonial thought to frame the affirmation of African music by giving it a prominent place in the curriculum. In order to appreciate the role different musics are expected to play in the curriculum, the work of prominent ethnomusicologists provides a means to conceptualise the range of emerging musics, including World Music, Global Music and Cosmopolitan Music, and their differences. For teachers to comply with the policy directive to teach different musics to diverse learners, they are required to expand their knowledge and adapt their teaching styles to achieve these aims. This study highlights a lack of resources and of structured teaching support through continuing professional development as well as a need for policy to give clearer direction in the way it instructs teachers to execute the changes demanded of them in the curriculum. An investigation of teachers’ own musical education and their views of the new curriculum reveals that they are willing to teach a variety of musics. Their perceptions of the differences between Western and African music illustrate a reflective understanding of the challenges they face in this undertaking.
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Respress, William. "Perceptions of African-american Males Regarding Factors Supporting Doctoral Completion in Colleges of Education." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 1997. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2970.
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The primary purpose of the study was to examine what institutional factors most influenced the decision of African-American male doctoral scholars to persist unto graduation. The literature review showed mentoring, institutional climate, race relations, and social adjustment as key factors in persistence of minorities in graduate studies. An objective specific to the study was to explore the cumulative outcomes that mentoring, social adjustment, institutional climate, and race relations have upon persistence. The population included scholars at both Predominantly White Colleges (PWIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) throughout the United States in Colleges of Education. One hundred sixty-four scholars responded representing a return rate of 96%. The African-American Male Doctoral Scholar Survey was employed to collect data. Analyses of the data included ANOVA, independent sample t-tests, analysis of frequencies, percentages of responses, and Tukey's Post-hoc analysis. Responses to open-ended questions were analyzed and cited from comments written by scholars. There were six major findings. Factors affecting scholars' decision to persist unto graduation at PWIs differed from those who attended HBCUs when considering mentoring, social adjustment, race relations, and institutional climate. No significant differences were discovered between age groups upon the decision of scholars to persist. Employment classification affected persistence of scholars at both types of institutions. Institutional geographical location affected the decision of scholars to persist. Scholars' classification status did not affect persistence at either type of institution. The number of scholars within the department significantly influenced persistence unto graduation. Recommendations were made for replication of the study and refinement of the instrument. A 13-point institutional plan of action was developed toward improving the persistence rate of scholars. A 12-point plan was developed to assist scholars in achieving a successful doctoral experience.
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Gieser, James D. "How international students navigate the social and academic practices of a South African university." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11909.
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Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-75).<br>The aim of this thesis is to qualitatively explore how international students navigated the social and academic practices of a South African university. A sample of thirteen students was selected from the Humanities faculty at the University of Cape Town, each of whom was a visiting student for either one semester or a full academic year. Participants volunteered for one-hour, face-to-face interviews which were tape-recorded for later analysis. The interviews were semi-structured, as the author hoped to elicit particular critical moments in the student's study-abroad journey. Two groups of students were sought for purposes of validation and comparison: Group 1 consisted of nine American students; Group 2 consisted of four students from other countries. The focus, however, was primarily upon the experiences of the students from the U.S. The theoretical framework for the study was drawn from the work of social theorists James Gee and Pierre Bourdieu. Their interest in the differential distribution of power in the social world - particularly within academia - and in how the individual gains or loses power as s/he moves in that world provided helpful frames for exploring how international students negotiated often unfamiliar contexts encountered while studying abroad. To operationalize the theoretical framework, Anthony Giddens' concept of "fateful moments" was utilized. Following other researchers, the concept was altered to "critical moments." Critical moments are moments in a subject's narrative which cause disjunctures to arise in the life journey; they are moments of crisis which demand navigational choices to be made. In analysis of the data, these moments were located either by the interviewee's identification or the author's interpretation. In order to aid analysis practices were split into two domains: social and academic. Data was then clustered according to themes which arose in the interviews. In relation to social practices, common themes were related to "with whom to socialize" and to national and racial identities. American students in particular were deliberate in stating their intent to meet "local" students and to create distance from other Americans. Issues related to national and racial identity arose strongly across all of the interviews and influenced both their practices as well as those of "local" students. In relation to academic practices, themes related to academic support, academic expectations, and tacit academic procedures were predominant. When faced with unknown practices students often engaged in a compare-and-contrast activity, drawing upon known practices from their home institutions to serve as the standard by vhich ncv practiccs were judged. However, although splitting practices into two domains was helpful for analysis, students' practices often cut across them. For example, issues related to national and racial identity often occurred both in and out of the classroom. Based on the findings of this thesis as well as the literature, the author concludes with suggestions for future study-abroad programmes. Specifically, hc focuses upon the pre-orientation component of such programmes, suggesting that students may be more fully prepared to engage their study-abroad experience by being introduced to a particular perspective of the social world based on the social theories of Gee and Bourdieu.
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Price, Kariema. "Entrepreneurship education courses across multidisciplinary programmes at a South African university of technology: educator and student perspectives." Doctoral thesis, Faculty of Commerce, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30142.
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Research in the field of entrepreneurship education suggested the need for more studies that focus on the characteristics of the pathways to entrepreneurship education. Previous empirical work in this field has largely been driven by uncovering the link between entrepreneurship education and its impact on students, while fewer researchers have focused on the alignment between the components that constitute entrepreneurship education. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore the contextual factors affecting entrepreneurship courses (design and delivery) and their subsequent effects on student perceptions of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education across multidisciplinary programmes within a higher education institution. A key aspect of this study was to determine whether students across disciplines were inspired and stimulated by the content and pedagogical aspects of their courses. In this mixed method convergent parallel design study, the qualitative component consisted of semi-structured interviews, presenting the narrative of ten educators teaching in entrepreneurship education. For the quantitative component, survey questionnaires were administered to a sample of 640 students across multidisciplinary programmes at a higher education institution. These surveys were designed to capture the student perceptions of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education, as well as their experience of the entrepreneurship course. Key findings of this research identified four factors affecting entrepreneurship education courses within the higher education institution as those of: course design and delivery; institutional impact; educator aspect and the student aspect. Analysis of the student aspect established the influence of contextual factors affecting student perception including: employment aspirations; prior exposure to entrepreneurship education; socio-cultural influence; employment confidence and student experience of the course. This study proposed a conceptual model presenting a framework for teaching in entrepreneurship that highlights the need for an alignment between the factors affecting entrepreneurship education. This conceptual framework therefore provides a map for (a) higher education institutions aiming to implement entrepreneurship education without assimilating its entrepreneurial flavour, (b) curriculum designers of multi-disciplinary programmes and course planners of entrepreneurship education, and (c) educators in entrepreneurship education aiming to develop not only their teaching practice in this field but also enhance their career trajectory in an fast evolving field of education. Firstly, this study contributes to the growing field of research in entrepreneurship education as it is offered within the higher education system, particularly in South Africa where keen efforts are directed at improving and developing this field through current and ongoing initiatives and implementation plans. Secondly, this research also offers an insight into the challenges faced by educators teaching in entrepreneurship, the positioning of entrepreneurship education courses, particularly within multidisciplinary programmes taught at university level and the dynamic of the student input factor. Considering these insights could provide opportunities for improving entrepreneurship education curricula within the higher education institution, not only from a course design perspective but also in the way courses are delivered. Further expectations from this research would be to promote the status of institutionalised entrepreneurship education courses within the higher education community and to acknowledge the written and unwritten role and expectations of educators in this field. This should encourage opportunities for faculty training and development in entrepreneurial learning, benefitting both educator and student.
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Bell, Michael Terrell. "Ascending the Ivory Tower| The Barriers to Black Leadership in Higher Education Administration." Thesis, St. Thomas University, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10747028.
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<p> Contemporary higher education is becoming more diversified, both in student populations and the ranks of faculty and staff. However, that same level of diversification does not extend to the upper echelon of higher education administration. The following research examines African Americans in positions of higher education administrative leadership and the obstacles that prevent advancement to those positions. The study utilizes a qualitative ethnographic approach and examines the experiences and perceptions of 10 African American leaders in higher education. Their experiences and perceptions are analyzed with five themes ultimately emerging. These themes of 1) insufficient representation of African Americans in higher education administration, 2) insufficient opportunities for mentorship of African American administrators, 3) overall isolation of African American Administrators, 4) various socio-economic barriers that impede educational obtainment and career advancement, and 5) institutionalized cronyism and elitism that hinders promotion of African American administrators represent barriers or obstacles that hinder African Americans from ascending the ivory tower of higher education administrative ranks. The recommendations in this study include further research about African Americans in higher education administrative leadership. Further study may potentially aid in the creation of programs aimed at increasing the advancement of minorities in leadership roles at higher education institutions.</p><p>
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Townsend, Yvonne. "Examining Gender Differences in Persistence in Higher Education Among African American Students." UKnowledge, 2011. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_theses/118.
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This Study examined issues related to persistence in higher education among African American students, using the prominent model proposed by Vincent Tinto. The intentions were to examine the growing gender gap among African American students. The study examines factors from the Tinto model such as high school GPA, College GPA, college social integration and academic integration to try and explain the effects of gender among African American students. This research also attempts to elaborate the Tinto model by considering high school extracurricular activities as a pre-entry attribute that has an effect on persistence in higher education. Use of the Tinto model, even in an elaborated state, did not explain the effects of gender among African American students. This research suggests that other factors not included in the model have some effect on student persistence; one such factor could be gender socialization which can lead to different patterns in educational achievement.
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Van, der Westhuizen André Jeánne. "South African higher education institutions as learning organisations : a leadership process model." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/53059.
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Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2002.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Reform is one of the most controversial elements in higher education and has therefore
attracted much attention from within the academic community and from outside. The
present higher education scene is characterised by demands for transformation and
change, not only in South Africa but in Africa and the developed countries as well. The
pressures and demands for change come from outside the field of higher education as
well as from within. Some countries have been involved in the process of change and
transformation for a period of over thirty years, while others have just embarked on the
route or still have to start the change process.
The post-apartheid era has marked an era of profound change for South African higher
education institutions with concomitant legislation to ensure the change process. If
effective and successful transformation of higher education institutions and systems can
take place in South Africa with new models of transformation and the effective
integration of cultures and openness to change at all institutional levels, these models
could be instructive not only to Africa but also to the rest of the world and to academic
life universally. However, the demands for change worldwide indicates not only
towards new legislation but also towards flexible approaches and new forms of
institutional structures and leadership to accommodate the significant, rapid and
fundamental changes taking place in higher education and the realisation that
institutions of the future will be different from those of the past and the present.
In this study the influence of organisational models are used to establish a conceptual
framework towards the development of learning organisations. The study reflects on
how these new types of organisations will influence higher education institutions as
organisations. It also considers what will be expected of higher education institutions to
become learning organisations. Learning organisations have special qualities and higher
education institutions or teaching institutions do not automatically qualify as learning
organisations. The promise of the new millennium provides the higher educationcommunity with the opportunity to take stock of their position and to find out if they
possess the necessary skills and have the enabling structures to accommodate a new
world. Becoming a learning organisation involves more than a paradigm shift for higher
education institutions. It requires a revolution, a quantum leap towards individual
recognition and growth, leadership development and empowerment and institutional
learning. The Academic 'Process Leadership' Super structure provides the space,
structure and process for higher education organisations to re-organise and re-create
itself to fit the demands of a new world.
An analysis of leadership, leadership development and institutional change in higher
education institutions brought to the fore that these institutions have not been effective
in providing programmes that develop leaders because they simply do not know what is
necessary for effective leadership development. Institutions do not have an in-depth
understanding of leadership and they have not enculturated leadership development as a
core aspect and activity in higher education institutions. There is grave concern
regarding the development of 'soft' people skills. The qualitative research investigation
into the process of change towards learning organisations in higher education
institutions indicate that there are profound problems in the areas of leadership,
leadership development, people management and satisfaction, knowledge management
and learning dynamics. These areas form the core aspects within the new structures, that
of learning organisations.
The insights gained from the process analysis of five higher education institutions
indicate that the implementation of the academic leadership model as described in the
study will provide individual leaders with the necessary leadership skills to fulfill their
roles in the recreated empowered institutions. This process of leadership development,
as indicated in the study, could enable institutions to become learning organisations.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Die huidige konteks van hoer onderwys dui daarop dat verandering een van die
belangrikste, maar ook mees kontroversiele aspekte aangaande die studieveld is. Die
hoeronderwysomgewing asook hoeronderwysinstellings verkeer onder geweldige druk
van beide binne en buite die akademiese gemeenskap om te verander.
'n Analise van die huidige stand van sake en konteks van hoeronderwysinstellings dui
daarop dat verandering nie net in Suid-Afrika 'n faktor is en baie aandag geniet nie,
maar dat Afrika sowel as die ontwikkelde lande ook onder geweldige druk verkeer om
te transformeer. Sommige lande is al vir meer as dertig jaar betrokke by die proses van
verandering. Dit wil egter voorkom dat sommige van die ander lande Of nog glad nie
begin het nie 6f pas begin het met die proses van verandering en transformasie.
Die tydperk na 1994 en die oorgang na 'n nuwe demokratiese regenng m Suid-
Afrika was ook die begin van dramatiese verandering in die Suid-Afrikaanse
hoeronderwysomgewing. Die kwessie van verandering is nie net in sekere nasionale
beleidsdokumente aangespreek nie, maar ook in meegaande wetgewing. Indien
Suid-Afrikaanse hoeronderwysinstellings in staat sou wees om nuwe modelle te
kan akkommodeer en te kan verwesenlik terwyl hulle besig is met die transformasieen
veranderingsproses, kan hierdie modelle van nut en van waarde wees, nie net
vir Afrika nie, maar ook vir die ontwikkelde wereld en die internasionale
hoeronderwysgemeenskap.
Nuwe strukture en modelle kan ongelukkig nie net deur wetgewing daargestel word nie.
Instellings sal toeganklik moet wees vir moontlike nuwe vorms van leierskap,
leierskapsontwikkeling en die konsep van veranderde strukture om sodoende te kan
aanpas by die eise van 'n voortdurend veranderende wereld en die geweldige impak wat
verandering op hoeronderwysinstellings het. Hoeronderwysinstellings sal moet besef
dat instansies wat op die toekoms gerig word nie kan vashou aan ou uitgediendemodelle nie. Toekomsgerigte modelle verskil van die huidige vorms, sowel as die van
die verlede.
Die invloed van organisasiemodelle op hoeronderwysinstellings verskaf konseptuele
verwysingsraamwerke vir die ontwikkeling van nuwe begrippe en konsepte.
Die konsepte help om rigting aan te dui en te bepaal wat van instansies verwag
word om sodoende te kan verander na lerende organisasies. Dit is belangrik om
kennis te neem dat lerende organisasies spesifieke eienskappe het en dat
hoeronderwysinstellings nie sonder meer gereken en geklassifiseer kan word as lerende
organisasies nie. Hierdie nuwe vorm van organisasiestruktuur sal 'n fundamentele
invloed he op institusionele prosesse asook op die manier waarop instellings in die
toekoms bedryf sal word. In die nuwe millennium sal hierdie paradigmaskuif die
geleentheid aan hoeronderwysinstellings voorsien om nie net revolusioner te verander
nie maar ook om 'n kwantumsprong te maak na die belangrike mens- en
leervaardighede. Hierdie vaardighede is nie net noodsaaklik vir die ontwikkeling om 'n
lerende organisasie te word nie, dit maak ook die kern uit van hierdie nuwe
organlsaSles.
Die proses van akademiese leierskap en leierskapsontwikkeling, soos wat voorgestel
word in die model van die Akademiese Leierskapsproses Superstruktuur sal aan
instellings die geleentheid bied om die noodsaaklike leierskapsvaardighede te
ontwikkel. Dit sal ook die kreatiewe en innoverende omgewing skep wat dit vir hierdie
soort organisasie strukture moontlik sal maak om nuut te kan ontwikkel en sodoende in
staat sal stel om te kan herorganiseer binne 'n konteks van groter aanpasbaarheid.
Hierdie kwalitatiewe studie en navorsingsanalise ten opsigte van leierskap,
leierskapsontwikkeling en die proses van verandering en transformasie het aangedui dat
hoeronderwysinstellings in Suid-Afrika nie effektief ontwikkel ten einde lerende
organisasies te word nie. Die ondersoek dui daarop dat instellings nie die onderliggende
elemente van die begrip "leierskap" verstaan nie. Leierskap en leierskapsontwikkeling
maak tans nie deel uit van die huidige institusionele kultuur nie.
50
Middleton-Hinton, Aldison. "Understanding Barriers African American Teenage Mothers face in Pursuit of Higher Education." ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/4536.
Full textAbstract:
Researchers have found that social workers have difficulty identifying their roles in responding to the barriers African American teenage mothers face in pursuit of higher education. This action research project explored the roles social workers play in responding to the barriers African American teenage mothers face in pursuit of a college education and how social workers responded. The ecological systems theory was used to help understand this phenomenon. An action research methodology was used to collect data from 6 licensed social workers who worked with African American teenage mothers. Three focus groups were facilitated to explore the social work practice problem. The data were collected, transcribed and coded using an open coding and thematic analysis process. Findings revealed 5 overarching themes: 1) emotions; 2) barriers; 3) support systems; 4) success factors; and 5) social work practice approaches and implications. Findings indicated that these social workers responded to the barriers African American teenage mothers face by exploring teenage mothers' emotions as well as their own emotions, by using appropriate social work practice approaches, and exploring the factors that contribute to teenage mothers' success. Participants also responded by acknowledging teenage mothers' support systems and by addressing the actual barriers while in the roles of case manager, educator, broker, and advocate. These findings affect positive social change across all systems of society by guiding social workers to find and implement feasible and sustainable psychosocial interventions to address identified barriers. Eliminating these barriers provides higher educational opportunities for African-American teenage mothers.