The Department of Health Professions Education’s (DHPE) mandate is to transform the quality of teaching, learning, research and innovation activities in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. The department trains lecturers in the art of teaching, learning and research to keep abreast with current scientific and technological innovations in Health Professions Education. The department was one of the outcomes of the MEPI [Medical Education Partnership Initiative a USA government funded programme called NECTAR [Novel Education Clinical Trainees and Researchers]. HPE became fully operational from April 2014. Currently, the department has initiated plans to provide technical support to sister universities in the country to run health professions education programmes.
Core Functions
- Professional Development Training through organisation, administration and coordination of faculty development workshops on specific topics as identified through ongoing needs assessments;
- Post-graduate Diploma and Masters of Science Degree in Health Professions Education (curriculum and regulations submitted to authorities for approval).
- DPhil in HPE open for enrolments;
- Clinical Skills Simulation Laboratory Training;
- E-learning innovations and users (faculty and students) support in the College of Health Sciences; the department is spearheading a number of projects to bring e-learning technology to a mass level, such as the SMILE plug (Portable cloud) and Virtual Lectures between Harare and Parirenyatwa Hospitals.
- The clinical skills simulation laboratory is also under the HPE department and sessions for various clinical skills procedures are periodically conducted for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
- Health Education and Advanced Leadership Program in Zimbabwe(HEALZ) coordination and administration;
- Health Professions Education Research;
- Community Based Education; in particular co-ordinate the undergraduate Rural attachment programme
- Training in Ethics in the different health Professions;
- In collaboration with emergency medicine we deliver the Primary Trauma Care (PTC) Training, through organizing, administration and coordination of training workshops for ambulance, emergencies and critical care health practitioners.
- Supporting sister universities like NUST, MSU and AU in running health professions education programmes through involvement in faculty development, HEALZ training, HPE conferences and inter-professional education.
- The department plays an essential role in promoting collaborations with local, regional and international health professions education units and associations such as SAFRI, FAIMER, AMEE, AHA and many others.
Chairperson
Dr TL Mugwali