Klerksdorp Midweek, Klerksdorp - The NWU’s proposed new medical school now enjoys the support of Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, Minister of Higher Education and Training. In a letter to the principal and vice-chancellor of the NWU, Prof Bismark Tyobeka, the minister said that she appreciates the commitment demonstrated by the university in its efforts to be responsive to the needs of its communities while addressing the challenge of scarce skills in the country.
“I wish to confirm that I support the establishment of the new medical school and related projects at the university. The new medical school holds the promise of making significant contributions to both academia and practical applications, ultimately benefitting the country,” she said.
The NWU Medical School will be the 11 th medical school in South Africa, and the project is a collaborative effort between the NWU and the NW Provincial Government. The new medical school seeks to address the shortfall of health practitioners in the province, and to provide a base to grow the country’s medical expertise.
“I look forward to supporting the university in its endeavours to establish the medical school and remain committed to ensuring that the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) partners with the university in this important process,” Minister Nkabane concluded.
The NWU has made significant strides towards the establishment of its medical school and the development of the necessary curriculum. All critical milestones which included the approval of the six-year curriculum, the development of module documents of all nine modules were achieved in 2024, and all the necessary programme documents have been submitted to the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) for approval.
Minister Nkabane’s letter of support is crucial for the NWU and enables the university to finalise the Programme and Qualification Mix (PQM) and submit the curriculum to the Council on Higher Education (CHE) for accreditation.
During 2025, the NWU will finalise curriculum mapping, the design of study guides, and begin with the construction of the necessary infrastructure for the medical school. Critical staff appointments will also be made during 2025.
The official launch of the NWU Medical School and other partnership announcements are planned for the first half of 2025.
