The School of Public Health (SOPH) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) hosted a two-part workshop series in May and October 2015, as part of its ongoing work with 15 sister institutions in Africa and the global South. The overall aim of the workshops was to explore emerging opportunities for expanding access to, and delivery of, post-graduate training in public health for people working in or managing health services/systems.

1. University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health
A WHO Collaborating Centre for Teaching and Research in Human Resources for Health
Learning at a distance: experience
of the UWC School of Public
Health
Helen Schneider, Lucy Alexander, Uta
Lehmann, Corinne Carolissen

2. University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health
A WHO Collaborating Centre for Teaching and Research in Human Resources for Health
Outline
 Why the shift to distance learning
 Target group and overall programme design
 Importance of distance learning materials and
student support
 Role of technology and other future directions
 Challenges

3. University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health
A WHO Collaborating Centre for Teaching and Research in Human Resources for Health
UWC SOPH
 Established 1991
 Formal designation as SOPH 2000
 Post graduate: Diploma, MPH and PhD
 Shift towards distance learning in 2000
 From compulsory summer & winter schools, + study
from home with readings, + weekly tutorials
 To optional summer & winter schools, + text-based
distance modules with readers, phone, fax & email
contact
 High completion rates: 85%+

4. University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health
A WHO Collaborating Centre for Teaching and Research in Human Resources for Health
Rationale: why the SOPH did it
 Increase access:
 Financial (by 2007,70% self-funded)
 Learn while working
 Limited travel
 “Open learning system”
 Own pace
 Full-time (fast), part-time (regular) track
 Drawing on workplace experience for learning

5. University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health
A WHO Collaborating Centre for Teaching and Research in Human Resources for Health
Post graduate students registered
36
77
122
101 93
76 69 75
85 84
74 82
72 73 79
17
32
44 58 95 118
165
195
186
177 162
129 122 110
6
4
5
6
6
5
4
6
8
6
5
4
4
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
#students
South Africa Africa elsewhere

6. University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health
A WHO Collaborating Centre for Teaching and Research in Human Resources for Health
Who are our students?
 All working
 Health professionals
(nurses, doctors, rehab, lab)
 Managers, Policy makers
 Female and male, young
and old
 In urban and rural areas
 With or without access to
technology
Other countries:
India
Canada
France

7. University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health
A WHO Collaborating Centre for Teaching and Research in Human Resources for Health
Overall Design
Selection:
 Target new mid level managers
 Rigorous selection criteria and process
Curriculum content:
 Based on careful assessment of needs
 PHC and health system focus
 Management, health promotion, health
system research, health information
 Cross cutting values and principles

8. University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health
A WHO Collaborating Centre for Teaching and Research in Human Resources for Health
Distance learning material
 Requires:
 educational expertise
 big upfront investment

9. University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health
A WHO Collaborating Centre for Teaching and Research in Human Resources for Health
Distance learning materials
 Developed according to a template
 Carefully sequenced, interactive in style
 Guided didactic conversation, voice of a peer
 Focus on practical problems frequently
encountered by managers and practitioners
in the health service
 Multi-media, with strong demand to read
 Integrates assessment requirements, in-text
tasks and readings

10. University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health
A WHO Collaborating Centre for Teaching and Research in Human Resources for Health
Student support
 Crucial to retention and success
 Need strong admin team and logistics

11. University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health
A WHO Collaborating Centre for Teaching and Research in Human Resources for Health
Student support: additional mechanisms
 Handbook outlining expectations
 Scheduling and pacing of content
 Monitoring and regular reminders
 Sense of learning communities through
discussion groups
 Extensive feedback on assignments (drafts
and final)
 Telephone, skype, email support
 Face to face winter and summer schools

12. University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health
A WHO Collaborating Centre for Teaching and Research in Human Resources for Health
E-learning
 Shift towards:
 Discussion Groups: synchronous (skype, webex),
asynchronous (google groups)
 Integrated learning management system (SAKAI
platform)
 New interactive and monitoring possibilities
 Challenges:
 Connectivity: everyone has some; not all, all the
time
 Navigating new forms of learning and media
 Perceptions of surveillance

13. University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health
A WHO Collaborating Centre for Teaching and Research in Human Resources for Health
Future Plans
 Work based learning in leadership and
management (with UCT and UStellenbosch)
 Partnership with provincial government to develop
programmes with a significant work based
component
 Integrated into:
 accredited programmes in higher education (from short
course >>>> DrPH)
 workplace HRD processes and systems
 DrPH: (with Ghana)

14. University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health
A WHO Collaborating Centre for Teaching and Research in Human Resources for Health
Challenges
 Time to study
 Maintaining the pace: esp. mini-thesis phase
 Student isolation and support (academic, peer,
institutional)
 Interaction (how to maintain learning as a social
endeavor)
 Regular internet access
 Potential for academic dishonesty

15. University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health
A WHO Collaborating Centre for Teaching and Research in Human Resources for Health
Conclusions
Can expand access to quality public health
programmes through distance learning if:
 Target group and their needs carefully defined
 Not over-reaching on numbers
 Systematic approach to materials development
 Integration with workplace problems, themes
and experiences
 Comprehensive approach to student support

16. University of the Western Cape, School of Public Health
A WHO Collaborating Centre for Teaching and Research in Human Resources for Health
Thank you!
References:
Alexander L, Igumbor EU, Sanders D. Building capacity without disrupting
health services: public health education for Africa through distance
learning. Hum Resour Health 2009 Apr 1;7:28. doi: 10.1186/1478-4491-7-
28.
Amde WK, Lehmann U, Sanders D. Building capacity to develop an
African teaching platform on health workforce development: a
collaborative initiative of universities from four sub Saharan countries.
Hum Resour Health 2014 May 30;12:31. doi: 10.1186/1478-4491-12-31.