Key focus areas

The Centre for Health Professions Education (CHPE) is dedicated to advancing health professions education in South Africa and beyond. The following key focus areas guide our work:

1. Advancing Health Professions Education Locally and Globally

We strive to enhance teaching and learning in health professions education through:

  • Postgraduate training and research at local and international levels.
  • Workshops, seminars, and faculty development initiatives to build capacity in health professions education.
  • Collaborations with national and international institutions to contribute to global best practices in health education.

2. Curriculum Development & Educational Transformation

We contribute to identifying, designing, and developing qualifications and programmes in health sciences to create a responsive and future-ready higher education system. Our work includes:

  • Developing innovative curricula for emerging health professions.
  • Supporting the implementation of NWU’s spiralled MBChB curriculum (2028).
  • Enhancing programme alignment with accreditation and competency frameworks.

3. 21st-Century Learning: Student-Centred & Interprofessional Education

We prepare students for the complexities of modern healthcare through:

  • Interprofessional education (IPE) – Facilitating collaborative education across health disciplines.
  • Team-based learning and self-directed learning (SDL) – Encouraging active student engagement and autonomy in learning.

4. Faculty Development & Teaching Innovation

We support lecturers in adopting innovative teaching and learning practices by:

  • Designing and implementing active learning pedagogies to enhance student engagement.
  • Empowering faculty to explore blended learning, assessment, and e-learning tools.
  • Leading a faculty mentorship programme to support academic staff in professional development and teaching excellence.
  • Innovative Teaching in Undergraduate Education

The CHPE team is actively involved in WVGW 222, an interdisciplinary module focusing on interprofessional group work. Through team teaching, blended learning, and active learning strategies, this module provides students with an engaging, interprofessional learning experience.

 

Award-Winning Teaching Excellence

The CHPE is proud to have received the 2024 University Teaching Award in the Team-Teaching category, recognizing our collaborative efforts in advancing innovative, student-centred education within the WVGW 222 module. This achievement highlights our commitment to faculty development, curriculum innovation, and impactful teaching practices.

 

CHPE NWU

Back row: Prof Alida Herbst, Prof Awie Kotze, Dr Christiaan Bekker
Front row: Prof Jessica Pool, Prof Anitia Lubbe

CHPE NWU

Left to right: Dr Christiaan Bekker, Prof Anitia Lubbe, Prof Jessica Pool and Prof Christmal Christmals

 

5. Research in Health Professions Education

Our research is grounded in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) while also reflecting the expertise of our academic team:

  • Prof Jessica Pool – SoTL, mentorship, and the academic as a professional university lecturer.
  • Prof Yolande Heymans – Teaching and learning methods in higher education, team-based learning, and e-learning.
  • Prof Christmal Christmal – Clinical education, health professions education, and human resources for health policy.
  • Prof Anitia Lubbe – Assessment, feedback literacy, and self-directed learning in health professions education.

Our research informs evidence-based practices and contributes to national and international discourse in health professions education.

 

Stay Connected

The CHPE is committed to continuous improvement in health professions education, research, and faculty development. Don't hesitate to contact our team to learn more or collaborate with us.