Download service-learning in pharmacy at the universities of limpopo and

SERVICE-LEARNING IN PHARMACY AT
THE UNIVERSITIES OF LIMPOPO AND
ZIMBABWE
Star Khoza and Norman Z. Nyazema
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Zimbabwe
and Department of Pharmacy, University of Limpopo, South
Africa
THE PHILOSOPHY
The learning process involves two parties – the learner and the
instructor.
 Objective
To appropriate and assimilate knowledge on the Quality Use of Medicines
 Relations to the work to be done
Differ
 The duty bearer
The student is his/her own teacher because learning is self directed
 The role of the instructor
To guide, direct or superintend the operations in different
environments of the drug/medicines supply chain – from medicine
production to consumption
THE ENVIROMENT
In which the student involves himself or
herself in community activities for personal
and academic development consists of:
• The health system – based on the PHC (public)
• The University – community oriented policy (UZ)
• The classroom – didactic, group discussions
and simulation lab (UL)
• The community – which by and large has its own
knowledge, attitude, beliefs and practices as far
as health is concerned – COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATION is important
THE APPROACH
Pharmacy has four distinct disciplines.
 Pharmaceutical chemistry
 Pharmaceutics
 Pharmacy practice
 Pharmacology
In class, concepts, theories and ideas are introduced
in REAL LIFE (industry, hospital, community pharmacy
etc) case studies;
- at UZ this still largely fragmented but not completely
disconnected
- At UL curriculum now integrated as much as possible
THE APPROACH Cont’d
Exposure
 Voluntary – mainly in the private sector
 Organized at UZ – as rural attachment for
2 weeks (Final yr 40 hrs comm pharmacy)
- objective is community diagnosis
 Organized at UL – as experiential learning
(2 days/wk each semester)
- objective to appreciate the drug supply
chain
Part of student’s contineous (formative)
assessment
THE VERDICT
• Availability of resources (HR, infrastructure,
financial etc) determine the approach/best
practice followed at the two institutions.
• Relevance judged in hind sight after graduation
by many when doing community service (a
requirement in both countries)
• Human learning is complex phenomenon – it is
all about trial and error and important o review
from time to time