UCT Medical School – Health Sciences Education (Education Development)

UCT Medical School – Health Sciences Education (Education Development)

UCT Medical School – Health Sciences Education (Education Development)

Since its inception in 2000, the EDU has had the mandate to assist the Faculty of Health Sciences with its Transformation agenda in educational programs. The transformation agenda is three-pronged:

1. Restructure educational programs in order to graduate students who are appropriately prepared for practice in the transforming South African health system that is evolving toward Primary Health Care
2. Restructuring of educational programs to take account of new educational and assessment methodologies emerging in the field of health sciences education
3. Assist the faculty in achieving equity within the student population, ensuring the throughput and success of students from previously excluded groupings and educationally under-resourced backgrounds.

The values which inform our work with Faculty are shaped by social justice and equity concerns. In terms of staff, this recognizes that facilitating the professionalization of their roles as educators includes engaging curricular themes related to social responsiveness in educating and training health sciences students. In regard to students, this recognizes that students’ prior learning and experience need to be affirmed, engaged, and addressed in the learning process in ways that do not perpetuate overt or subtle forms of discrimination.

The function of the EDU has evolved

• From: planning, driving, and implementing the new MB ChB and infusing all teaching, service, and research activities of the entire Faculty with the Primary Health Care Approach (Dean’s Circular, 1 March 2000)
• To: being an educational service unit with a mission that promotes quality education within the Faculty of Health Sciences. Click here for more information.

TRANSFORMATION STATEMENT
EDU PURPOSE: promote the quality and effectiveness of the education process.
By means of the following functions:

• promote curriculum development
• promote continuous professional development
• promote the effective use of Educational Technology
• promote Health Sciences education research

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
Each of the following EDU functions is a strategic priority as follows:

1. Curriculum development including academic development
2. Continuous professional development in Education
3. Effective Use of Educational Technology
4. HS education research to inform 1, 2, and 3 above

Curriculum restructuring activities

• 2010: Facilitated the Curriculum Planning & Design for the Masters’s Programme in Forensic Sciences.
• 2010: Facilitated the Curriculum Restructuring of the Honours Programme in Nutrition and Dietetics.
• 2006 to present: Participating in the Curriculum Restructuring of the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
• 2004 to 2005: Facilitated the Development of the Intervention Programme (Extended Programme), School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
• 2004 to 2006: Facilitated the Curriculum Restructuring of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
• 2004 to current: Participating in Curriculum Restructuring of the MB ChB Programme, Years 4 to 6.
• 2001 – 2002: Facilitated the Development of the Intevention Programme (Extended Curriculum), MB ChB Programme.
• 2000 – 2003: Facilitating and Leading Curriculum Restructuring of the MB ChB Programme, Years 1 to 3.