EXPLORING INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION IN HIGHEREDUCATIONINSTITUTIONS: A SOUTH AFRICAN CASE STUDY.

Teaching and learning are collaborative processes that require the support and participation of professionals from diverse backgrounds. The implementation of interprofessional education has proven to be beneficial in preparing students for the world of work. Despite the advantages, there is a lack of studies encouraging interprofessional education at universities in South Africa. This study was underpinned by the adapted model ‘Concerned-Based Model for Student Development’ as a theoretical lens. A single case study design was adopted in this qualitative study. A purposive sampling strategy was selected to recruit participants. The findings revealed that students shared a positive view toward interprofessional education. They believed interprofessional education significantly strengthened their content knowledge and practical skills collaboratively with other professions. This study contributes to the understanding of interprofessional education at a higher education institution in the South African context. It also provides an opportunity for academics to develop network learning communities with professionals in their subject areas to strengthen collaboration. Since this study was limited to the South African context, it is recommended to include participants from global HEIs to share good practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]