The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Department of Health, led by the Head of Department, Dr Lucas Ndhlovu, alongside a delegation of University experts led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, Professor Mashudu Davhana-Maselesele.
Dr Ndhlovu reaffirmed the importance of strengthening collaboration between the Department and the University to help address the province's pressing health workforce needs. Professor Davhana-Maselesele echoed this, noting that UMP is committed to ensuring its programmes respond meaningfully to both local and national health challenges.
"Our mission is to offer high-quality educational and training opportunities that foster the holistic development of students through teaching and learning, research and scholarship, and engagement in collaboration with strategic partners. Through this partnership, we will produce highly skilled graduates who are not only academically grounded but also equipped with the practical experience to make a difference in their communities," she said.
During her presentation, Professor Davhana-Maselesele outlined the new programmes that UMP is planning to start after following the approval processes by relevant regulatory bodies. These include a Higher Certificate in Emergency Medical Care (EMC), a Bachelor of Dietetics and Nutrition, a Bachelor of Nursing, a Master's in Clinical Psychology, and forthcoming programmes in Pharmacy and Oral Health.
"The need for healthcare professionals in Mpumalanga is urgent. These programmes have been carefully crafted to meet those needs and ensure that we contribute meaningfully to the province's development," she explained.
Key areas of collaboration discussed during the meeting included Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities, access to provincial clinical training sites, professional mentoring, and the provision of student stipends where feasible. The University requested the Department's support in facilitating clinical placements, enabling community service opportunities for graduates, and issuing letters of endorsement to accompany regulatory submissions.
In response, the Department of Health committed to facilitating access to training sites and collaborating on a situational analysis to determine clinical placement capacity. Both parties agreed to develop a formal Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to clearly outline their respective roles and responsibilities.
Professor Davhana-Maselesele expressed her gratitude for the Department's support and underscored the value of collaborative partnerships in strengthening health care training and ultimately improving health outcomes. "We cannot do this alone. It is only through strong partnerships like this that we will be able to transform health outcomes and improve access to quality care across the province and throughout the country," she said.
The meeting concluded with several resolutions:
- Drafting of the MOA;
- Departmental support for community service placements;
- Submission of letters of support in compliance with regulatory requirements for the establishment of new programmes.
All parties reaffirmed their commitment to working together to ensure the successful implementation of the new programmes.
Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Picture supplied.