Learning in the Workplace
Placement: 260 hours, April–October:
1 day per week (Wednesday or Thursday)
IHPS in collaboration with the Department of Family Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, at the University of the Witwatersrand,
About the Programme
The BHSc Honours in Health Systems Sciences at Wits develops graduates who can analyse health systems, lead ethically, collaborate interprofessionally and use evidence, innovation and digital tools to improve health services. Learning in the Workplace (FAMH4017A) is a core module that gives students structured workplace exposure within real health organisations.
Students complete this module alongside coursework in systems health, contemporary health, quality improvement, health analytics, innovation and entrepreneurship, project management, research and responsible leadership. The placement allows students to apply these concepts and tools to real organisational settings.
Purpose of Learning in the Workplace
- Build links between theory and practice through authentic health system work.
- Develop management, leadership, project, quality improvement, analytic and research skills.
- Strengthening critical thinking, ethical awareness and reflective practice in real contexts.
- Support professional identity formation as emerging health systems scientist.
- Enhancing communication and observational skills and understanding of organisational culture.
- Apply theoretical knowledge to real-world health system contexts. • Demonstrate professional competence and reflective practice.
- Integrate workplace experience with academic learning through an e portfolio and internship report.
Placement Structure and Duration
- Total placement time: 260 hours.
- Period: April to October (one academic year).
- Pattern: 1 day per week, usually Wednesday or Thursday, agreed between host, student and academic coordinator.
- Working hours: Follow host organisation’s standard day.
- Sites: Health organisations including clinics, hospitals, NGOs, academic/research or programme units, and other relevant health system structures.
Profile of the Student
- Are BHSc Honours in Health Systems Sciences students at Wits.
- Understand the South African health system as a complex adaptive system, including burden of disease, equity, access and policy.
- Are developing competencies in systems thinking, health systems management, quality improvement, health analytics, innovation and entrepreneurship, project management, research and responsible leadership.
- Need supervision, mentoring and feedback; they are placed to learn, not as replacements for staff.
How Placement Links to Coursework
Programme Focus
How Placements Can Support Learning
Systems thinking & contemporary health
Analysing facility/organisation as part of the health system, understanding policies and constraints.
Quality improvement & health analytics
Participating in audits, process analysis, dashboards, basic data use for decision-making.
Innovation & entrepreneurship
Exposure to service innovations, new models of care, digital tools or community-based initiatives.
Project and programme management.
Involvement in planning, stakeholder engagement, monitoring and risk management.
Research and responsible leadership
Participation in ethical, evidence-informed work and observation of leadership and governance practices.
NB: This alignment supports theory-to-practice integration, professional competence and academic workplace integration as per the module outcomes.