The Postgraduate Diploma Interprofessional Education in Health has been approved and accredited to be implemented in 2021 at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. The development of the Interprofessional Education Unit (IPEU) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) aimed to address the challenges experienced in the fragmented healthcare system whereby professionals are working in their silos and thereby affecting the health outcomes of the population. At UWC, a focus was placed on preparing the undergraduate students to work interprofessionally and collaboratively and hence an interprofessional education core curriculum was implemented since 2000.
The development of this Postgraduate Diploma Interprofessional Education (PGDipIPE) further strengthens this project and aims to enable practitioners to collaborate across and within professions (eg. doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, etc.) and sectors (education, agriculture, etc.) to provide high-quality health and social care. Internationally and nationally, the emerging need for interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPCP) is emphasized through current practices.
This programme is unique in its offering as it is the only qualification of its kind on the continent of Africa. The implementation of this programme could facilitate IPCP core competencies (roles and responsibilities, leadership, communication, ethics and values) between different healthcare professionals from various health and social sectors. The following modules will be offered: IPE Theory, Models & Concepts; Shared Decision-Making; Leadership & Research.
For more information contact Dr Gerard Filies (Senior Lecturer), University of the Western Cape, Interprofessional Education Unit: gfilies@uwc.ac.za
(Photo: Original planning meeting of the Postgraduate Diploma in collaboration between South Africa and Norway)
