Preparing for work practice: Under- and postgraduate student training at the University of Pretoria (South Africa)

Issue title: Occupational Work Therapy Practice in South Africa

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Buys, Tania | Casteleijn, Daleen

Affiliations: Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Care Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Tania Buys, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Care Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, PO Box 667, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa. Tel.: +27 12 329 7800; E-mail: tania.buys@up.ac.za

Abstract: South Africa has experienced much new legislation since the restoration of democracy in 1994 which has had widespread influences on education. Past and current teaching strategies of occupational therapy training at the University of Pretoria have included the training of students in vocational rehabilitation (or work practice). The influence of these new laws on training is discussed. An outline of the undergraduate and postgraduate modules presented at the University of Pretoria is presented in this paper. The authors wish to share the training of vocational rehabilitation with other educators as this training program seems to be very successful in South Africa.

Keywords: Problem-based learning approach, graduate program, occupational therapy

Journal: Work, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 25-29, 2007