Article Compiled by: A Kruger and A Swanepoel
The Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of the Free State (UFS) implemented its 2026 Community Service Learning (CSL) programme as a structured, curriculum-integrated initiative aimed at strengthening reciprocal partnerships between the University and community stakeholders while developing students’ competence in occupation-based community practice. Guided by the UFS Community Service Learning framework, the programme emphasised collaborative capacity building rather than charitable service delivery, ensuring that all interventions were developed by, for, and with the community.
The programme was implemented over five sequential phases between March and July 2026. Fourth-year Occupational Therapy students initiated the process by conducting community needs analyses with community stakeholders and UFS partners, identifying priority occupational needs and facilitating collaborative planning with third-year students. The student groups subsequently designed and implemented evidence-informed health promotion initiatives that aligned with the Occupation Design Process, Community Build principles, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The programme culminated in Mandela Day health promotion events across six community sites, followed by the presentation of Digital Stories and Societal Impact Reports during the annual CSL Showcase Day.
The six projects addressed diverse community priorities across early childhood development, caregiver empowerment, student wellbeing, financial literacy, neurodevelopmental support, and access to university support services. Each project demonstrated measurable societal impact through collaborative partnerships, community participation, occupation-based health promotion, and sustainable capacity strengthening. Community stakeholders participated throughout the planning, implementation, and evaluation processes, reinforcing the programme’s commitment to reciprocal engagement and shared decision-making.
Beyond the direct community outcomes, the programme provided authentic experiential learning opportunities for third and fourth-year Occupational Therapy students. Students developed competencies in community needs assessment, collaborative leadership, project management, evidence-informed health promotion, evaluation of societal impact, and interprofessional and community partnership development. The mentorship model, whereby fourth-year students guided third-year students throughout the implementation process, further strengthened leadership capacity while promoting professional identity formation.
The 2026 CSL programme demonstrates the Department’s ongoing commitment to socially responsive occupational therapy education and meaningful community engagement. By integrating academic learning with authentic community partnerships, the programme contributed to sustainable community development while preparing future occupational therapists to address occupational inequities through collaborative, occupation-centred practice.
Last Updated on 27 October 2026 by HPCSA Corporate Affairs