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National School of Public Health at Medunsa


University of Stellenbosch South Africa


Together with the National School of Public Health at Medunsa, the University of Stellenbosch got involved in the battle against HIV/AIDS when Dept Pres Jacob Zuma posed a challenge to them towards the end of 2000 to develop a programme that addresses one of the most important challenges our democracy faces by taking HIV/AIDS training to the managers and labour leaders of South Africa's besieged workforce.
"Regardless of what we do in the community, if we do not extend our prevention and care work to the workplace, we will not make a dent in this epidemic," Zuma said. The fight must be taken to the workplace where income is generated to combat poverty and create wealth.
With 70% of all the people in the world living with HIV and /AIDS, Southern Africa is the fastest growing segment of the epidemic. In South Africa alone almost 5 million people live with HIV and Aids. The disease primarily kills people in their most productive years and exceeds any other threat to the wellbeing of employees, and the economic impact is substantial.
Academic institutions must help transform our society by collaborating and creating new programmes across the divides of our past, Prof Jan du Toit of the University of Stellenbosch says.
This viewpoint, together with Zuma's challenge, led to the development of the Postgraduate Diploma in the Management of HIV/AIDS in the World of Work. This yearlong part-time course, a collaboration between the Stellenbosch University and Medunsa, was offered for the first time in 2001. "Across academic disciplines we created a model of regional collaboration that emphasises the creative role universities can play in nourishing social, political and economic transformation," Du Toit says.
The centre has various purposes:
  • Offering postgraduate educational programmes on the management of HIV/AIDS in the workplace - these can be offered in collaboration with other institutions, also with the support of outside funding.
  • Doing research about issues around HIV/AIDS in the workplace, as well as publishing the results.
  • Developing community projects relating to the management of HIV/AIDS in the workplace.
  • Building knowledge and infrastructure in order to maintain the highest possible standards in the education, research and service rendering about HIV/AIDS in the workplace.
  • Making available knowledge in the area of HIV/AIDS in the workplace on a contractually organised basis to interested people and organisations.
  • Controlling and managing external funds earmarked for the centre to improve its teaching, research and service-rendering capabilities.
General (structure, modules, assessment)
The postgraduate diploma is presented in partnership between the African Centre for HIV/AIDS Management in the world of work at Stellenbosch University and the National School of Public Health at Medunsa. It is an online (via the Internet) teaching programme supplemented with interactive satellite broadcasts. It is presented on a part-time basis and students attend two contact sessions during the year, a summer school at medunsa and a winter school at Stellenbosch, which are compulsory to all students.
The assessment of students will be done on a continuous basis throughout the year. Training will be presented in 6 modules of 20 creditseach:
Module 1: The problem of HIV/AIDS
The HIV/AIDS epidemic, The general macro-economic impact of HIV/AIDS
Module 2: Socio-cultural aspects of HIV/AIDS
Socio-cultural aspects, Migration and poverty.
Module 3: HIV/AIDS Policy and Advocacy
Legal framework & organisational practices regarding employment of workers with HIV/AIDS, A labour relations perspective on HIV/AIDS, Principles of policy development, The process and policy content of an HIV/AIDS policy.
Module 4: Prevention and care for people living with HIV/AIDS
Strategies for prevention and care, Therapeutic Management of HIV/AIDS, Care for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Module 5: Management in the era of HIV/AIDS
A business perspective on HIV/AIDS, An individual perspective on HIV/AIDS, Social responsibility and ethics.
Module 6: Research, Monitoring and Evaluation of HIV/AIDS programmes
Research Methodology, Community/Organisation mobilisation, Impact prediction
In all, students must complete 120 credits to qualify for the award of the diploma. After completing the diploma students qualify to enter in the Masters programme.
Admission requirements
The entry requirements for the diploma are (i) any Bachelor's degree or National Higher Diploma or equivalent, (ii) appropriate managerial experience and (iii) computer, internet and e-mail skills.
Outcomes of the programme
By successfully completing the diploma, candidates will have acquired the knowledge, competencies and managerial skills
to formulate an HIV/AIDS policy at work that is cost-effective and evidence-based, taking due account of the legal, ethical, social, economic and health issues;
  • to influence and facilitate strategic and business planning, to manage productivity, and to carry out performance assessment, within the HIV/AIDS context;
  • to develop a comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention and continuum of care programme;
  • to implement legislation and policies affecting HIV/AIDS at work;
  • to facilitate community support and community actions;
  • to conduct labour planning for a future in which HIV/AIDS is prevalent;
  • to monitor and assess HIV/AIDS prevention and care programmes;
  • to assess the impact of HIV/AIDS in the workplace; and to carry out a research project on HIV/AIDS in the workplace.
Teaching modes
In presenting the various modules of the programme the two universities will make use of various modes of teaching. These will include the following:
  • Online teaching using WebCT and Interactive Satellite broadcasts (for the Stellenbosch courses)
  • Face-to face teaching during summer and winter schools
  • Analyses of case studies
  • Meeting role-players in the HIV/AIDS areas
  • Projects that enable students to apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes learned
  • Site visits to other projects to gain first-hand experience.
Application information
Prospective students have to apply in writing before 30 September of the year prior to their studies.
Please ensure that you complete twoapplication forms:
1. African Centre application form
  • In Adobe Acrobat format OR
  • In MSWord format
    2. University Application form
  • http: //www.sun.ac.za
    Tuition fee: R9700.
    Additional costs:
    Summer and Winter School*
    * Students are responsible for the payment of their own transport and accommodation during the Summer School at Medunsa and the Winter School at Stellenbosch.

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