Division Health Sciences Education

The Division Health Sciences Education in the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences straddles the worlds of healthcare and education. This field developed internationally in response to the demand for optimal training of healthcare professionals to deliver quality care. Although healthcare professionals are trained to be experts in their chosen professions, they need training in applying educational philosophy, principles, and practices (pedagogy) in healthcare contexts. 

The Division Health Sciences Education at the UFS has the following focus areas:

1. Research in Health Professions Education (HPE)
   Continuous change and development in both healthcare and education require relevant, ethical, and transformative research to provide evidence for developing theory and pioneering practices in health sciences education

2. Postgraduate qualifications in HPE
   Postgraduate Diploma, Master's, and PhD programmes offered by the Division Health Sciences Education provide pathways for healthcare professionals to obtain educational qualifications and grow the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Health Professions. The content covers various topics, including curriculum design and delivery, teaching, learning and assessment practices, quality assurance and educational management, research, and professional skills.

3. Faculty development
   Academic staff responsible for training the next generation of healthcare professionals need support to remain responsive to the changing healthcare needs of society, numerous stakeholders (including patients and regulators), and the higher education and service delivery environments. Faculty development initiatives focus on developing research, educational, and leadership expertise and emphasize innovative educational approaches.

Staff profile

• Head of Division: Van der Merwe, Lynette (Associate Professor)
• Associate Professor: Adefuye, Anthonio 
  
• Senior Lecture: Dr Shangase Phindile Zifikile