A unique collaboration between the Canterbury health
sector and tertiary education institutions has been given the seal of
approval.
The Minister of Health Tony Ryall joined with
representatives from the University of Otago, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute
of Technology, University of Canterbury and the Canterbury District Health Board
(CDHB), to celebrate the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding last week.
The approach will accommodate the learning and development
needs of the health workforce as a whole, including both clinical and non
clinical staff.
CDHB chief executive David Meates says this Memorandum of
Understanding signals a new chapter in the relationship between the tertiary
education institutions and the CDHB and work is underway to design, develop and
deploy a core curriculum in management and leadership for the wider health
workforce.
“Underpinned by the CDHB Leadership Capabilities
Framework, the health workforce curriculum will be informed by best practice
research, teaching and learning in the areas of health management and
leadership,” Mr Meates says.
“It will be designed to provide the skills, knowledge
understanding and applied behavioural changes in the workforce required both now
and in the future. Through this combined approach the workforce will realise a
more coherent and unified set of outcomes that will result in learning aligned
to the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.”
This alignment will enable greater transportability of
learning achievements from the University and Polytechnic sector, and allow for
enhanced recognition of the investment in workforce development, he says.
“We are excited that we have the support of our tertiary
education partners working with us to develop a sustainable and transportable
curriculum in health management and leadership.”
Learning will be delivered, over time, through a flexible and
blended approach utilising both face to face experiences and the use of
technology.
“This will see us working in different ways to engage with
our colleagues and learn from each other, while at the same time applying our
newly acquired knowledge to our workplace environment and working towards
nationally recognised qualifications in health management and leadership,” Mr
Meates says.