Community-based education and service learning: experiences of health sciences students at the University of the Free State

𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉 In this research project, an in-depth study was done by the researcher in view of providing recommendations, based on the experiences of Health Sciences students in Community-Based Education (CBE) and Service Learning (SL), to academic staff in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), University of the Free State (UFS), as well as to all internal and external role players who are planning such initiatives in the future in order to enhance the effectiveness thereof. The current challenge in the training of health professionals is that programmes should produce graduates who are prepared for work in community settings. CBE and SL are teaching approaches used in the FHS, at the UFS, in order to prepare undergraduate students for future professional work in rural and underserved communities. The research problem revolved around determining what the experiences of Health Sciences students are during CBE and SL undertaken at the UFS. The overall goal of the study was to explore the students’ views regarding CBE and SL initiatives in order to make recommendations to all stakeholders involved in these initiatives with the view to enhance the efficacy thereof for students. The aim of the study was to explore the experiences, views, attitudes and perceptions of Health Sciences students regarding CBE and SL at the UFS. An exploratory mixed-methods design was used – a design in which the results of the first method (qualitative) can help develop or inform the second method (quantitative). The methods that were used and which formed the basis of the study comprised a literature review, and – as the empirical study – nominal group discussions and a questionnaire survey. The purpose of the literature review was to provide background for the research problem, to establish the need for the research and to indicate that the researcher is knowledgeable about the area. The literature review focussed on the contextualisation and conceptualisation of CBE and SL. The purpose of the nominal group discussions was to identify themes that occurred in the questionnaire survey. The purpose of the questionnaire survey was to identify the most commonly shared perceptions and attitudes that Health Sciences students have about CBE and SL and to identify whether there are certain factors that influence their experience of CBE and SL. Recommendations were made on how to implement and manage CBE and SL within undergraduate Health Sciences programmes at the FHS in such a way that students benefit from the experience and as a result, the effectiveness thereof improve. The study was done to make a contribution to the implementation and management of CBE and SL within undergraduate Health Sciences programmes in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the UFS, through describing how students currently experience CBE and SL in the FHS. The study provides recommendations to all stakeholders in the FHS, at the UFS that are currently involved in CBE or SL and to those who are planning such initiatives in the future. A contribution is made and new knowledge is added through this study. By describing how undergraduate Health Sciences students experience CBE and SL in the FHS, at the UFS and by providing recommendations regarding the implementation and management of CBE and SL in such a way as to enhance the students’ experience thereof, the identified gap is bridged. The sound research approach and methodology ensured the quality, reliability and validity of the research. The completed research can form the basis for future research. If the recommendations are followed when implementing and managing CBE and SL initiatives within undergraduate Health Sciences programmes, the students’ experiences of these initiatives will improve, and ultimately the effectiveness of CBE and SL will improve for all stakeholders involved. ___________________________________________________________________