Learning for change and improvement: introducing NHSU
Work-based learning will be one of the hallmarks of NHSU — a
new-style university dedicated to higher education in healthcare and
socialcare. Its first chief executive, Professor Bob Fryer, gives
an overview of its aims and courses.
keywords: corporate
university, virtual campus, healthcare and socialcare modernisation,
professional development.
abstract
NHSU (the NHS University) will open for business at the end of
November 2003. Its twin strategic aims will be to help secure
transformations both in service delivery in healthcare and socialcare
and in work-based learning. NHSU will draw on the best traditions of
both ‘corporate’ and ‘traditional’ universities, making use of elearning
and an innovative ‘virtual campus’.
Innovation on this scale constitutes a great challenge, especially
given the underdevelopment of work-based and elearning in this country
and current poor levels of access of many staff to computing. The key to
success will be in working in partnership and collaboration with
managers and staff in healthcare and socialcare, with service users and
with educational institutions already making learning provision.
Achieving full university status and title will require reconciling
the standards of independence fundamental to universities with a genuine
engagement in a special relationship with the NHS and social care.
Br J Healthcare Comput Info Manage 2003; 20(8): 22–4. |
