The Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) is celebrating a major achievement after its Understanding the World of Health teaching team was named one of the winners of the 2025 National University Teaching Award (NUTA).
They received the NUTA award in category 3: A Collaboration of Academics who have shown innovation in teaching and learning.
The award, coordinated by the South African University Teachers (SAUT), recognises innovative teaching practices in higher education that go beyond individual classrooms to shape departmental, institutional, and even global contexts. The winning team, led by Prof Yolande Heymans, includes Prof Jessica Pool, Prof Anita Lubbe, Prof Christmal Christmals, Dr Christiaan Bekker and Dr Christo Bisschoff.
Their award-winning work focuses on the compulsory second-year module Understanding the World of Health (WVGW 222). This philosophy-based module is taught by a multidisciplinary team representing diverse healthcare disciplines, campuses, and research interests. The module was designed to model the collaborative practices expected in healthcare, thereby preparing students with competencies that extend beyond disciplinary knowledge.
According to the NUTA panel, the team was commended for employing innovative, student-centred practices that foster critical thinking, ethical reasoning, problem-solving, leadership, and teamwork. Through interprofessional group work and reflexive learning, WVGW 222 aligns with the NWU’s Teaching and Learning Strategy and responds to the competencies required by professional councils.
Prof Jessica Pool, director of the Centre for Health Professions Education, emphasised the collaborative foundation of the module. “Teaching together across disciplines, campuses, and contexts has shaped both student learning and our understanding of purposeful teaching in a dynamic higher education environment. Diversity is not a constraint, but a catalyst for transformation,” she said.
She added that the award is a recognition of the team’s values and persistence over the past seven years. “This journey has been filled with triumphs and challenges, but it has taught us that inclusivity is not about accommodating differences; it is a deliberate strategy grounded in an ethic of care. This recognition affirms the value of teaching with care, purpose, and innovation,” said Prof Pool.
NWU principal and vice-chancellor, Prof Bismark Tyobeka, praised the accomplishment as a milestone for the institution. “This achievement comes hot on the heels of a very successful Africa International Teaching and Learning Conference that we hosted last week. It also comes at a critical juncture in our Desmond Tutu Medical School journey,” he said.
“It assures all of us and the higher education sector out there that this new school will have a competent launching base. We salute you for this great achievement.”
The Faculty of Health Sciences has been closely involved in preparations for the university’s Desmond Tutu Medical School, set to open in 2028. The executive dean
Prof Awie Kotzé, and deputy dean for teaching and learning, Prof Alida Herbst, were also acknowledged for their support, together with Prof Linda du Plessis, Senior deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning, who nominated the team for the award.
The award will officially be presented at the NUTA Gala Awards Ceremony on 21 November 2025 at the Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg.
The winning team: Prof Yolande Heymans, Prof Jessica Pool, Prof Anita Lubbe, Prof Christmal Christmals, Dr Christiaan Bekker and Dr Christo Bisschoff.
