The Department of Nursing Science has a rich history in nursing education. As such, the Department has been ranked as one of the top nursing science departments in South Africa with the highest number of doctoral-prepared staff members. Our world-class teaching, learning, community engagement and research provide unparalleled, innovative and sustainable responses to the diverse health needs of South African and African communities.

Our approach to teaching, learning, community engagement and research is underpinned by the spirit of ubuntu that fosters transdisciplinarity and transformative teaching and learning teams. The core activities of the Department are directed at being sustainable, inclusive and responsive to the development, wellbeing and success of our students and faculty, as outlined in the University of Pretoria’s Strategic Plan – 2025. We are committed to excellence in research and scholarship; our focal areas of research are driven by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as required by the University Transformation Policy.

The top priority for the Nursing Science Department in the coming years will be to provide our undergraduates with an integrated community-based, research-informed curriculum and learning opportunities that will prepare them for the world of work.

At the postgraduate level, we will use transformative, transdisciplinary supervisory practices that will enable students to graduate on time and #FlyAtUP, while optimising the number of research outputs and scholarship that will be published in ISI journals. We will also be rolling out the different postgraduate diplomas based on UPOnline programmes under the Programme and Qualification Mix. As a Department will expand our recruitment strategies for postgraduate students in other countries, especially in the SADC region.

Our community engagement endeavours will be focused on working with diverse community members for active citizenry and citizenship. To this end, the Department will support partnerships with its stakeholders, including SG Lourens Nursing College, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Netcare, Mediclinic, Tshwane District Hospital, Mpumalanga Departments of Health and Social Development, South African Nursing Council, and the local municipal clinics in the City of Tshwane.

As a Department, we are privileged to host the NRF’s SARChI Chair in Ubuntu Community Model of Nursing.  This will further provide our staff and postgraduate students with leverage to develop their knowledge and research skills. The initiatives of this Chair will enhance collaboration with other universities including North West University Mafikeng Campus, University of Venda and University of Johannesburg.

We will continue to establish and strengthen our international collaborations on cutting-edge research projects in support of our vision for the Department and its stakeholders.

You are welcome to ask any questions regarding this Ubuntu Department. 

Ramadimetja Shirley Mooa

Professor and Head of Department of Nursing Science