APPLICATION DEADLINE: 30th June 2025
The Albertina Sisulu Executive Leadership Program in Health (ASELPH) is a unique collaborative program through the University of Pretoria that was jointly developed and initially implemented with contributions from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, and the National and Provincial Departments of Health in South Africa. A key aim is to improve the South African health system through the training of health workers to become exceptional executive leaders, who are better able to drive local health system strengthening and performance.
The Program is focussed on developing Executives (middle and senior health system managers or clinicians) for the unique environment and challenges of the South African health system; this 120-credit (1200 learning hours) postgraduate diploma covers modules in Leadership, Ethics, Strategic Planning, Health sector Transformation, Decentralization & health service re-engineering; Complex Problem Solving, Financial Management, Human Resources For Health, Quality Improvement, Strategic Marketing and Communication and Monitoring and Evaluation. Innovative teaching and learning approaches include peer learning, case study methodology, reflective learning and mentorship. Each Fellow completes a research project and 12 core and elective modules. These are provided through a hybrid learning approach which includes pre-module online work, a 3-day contact class per module at the University of Pretoria and post module assignments. In all, there are approximately 35 contact class days in 6 blocks (Mon-Sat) over a calendar year.
This is a call for applications for the 8th cohort of the Albertina Sisulu Executive Leadership Program in Health starting in February 2026 at the University of Pretoria. This is a part-time Postgraduate Diploma in Health Systems Management in Executive Leadership.
Target Group: Those in middle and senior management and leadership positions, including clinicians, in the health system are encouraged to apply. Applicants from NGOs, technical agencies and the private health sector are also welcome to apply for the training programme. Preference is for current public health sector employees.
Minimum Requirements for Admission are a three-year University Bachelor’s Degree (NQF 7 or above) and a minimum of four years management experience in the health sector.
University funding support is not provided. However, Partial or Full Tuition Bursaries may be available for applicants who are public health sector employees from provincial health services as well as municipal health services, through respective provincial or HWSETA bursaries. It is anticipated that relevant Departments of Health may also cover travel and accommodation costs. .
Preference is for current South African public health sector employees and will be for those who have not had any previous postgraduate training in public health, management or leadership programs and/or those who have not benefited from any prior health sector financial support for any form of training.
Application and Selection Process: All SA public health sector officials eligible for consideration will be subjected to a joint Provincial DOH / ASELPH Recruitment, Interview and Selection process. Applications, together with supporting documents (ID, CV, motivation letter and copy of qualifications labelled with prospective applicant’s student number) must be submitted online at: https://www.up.ac.za/online-application/article/2445192/online-application-instructions
For further information contact Mr Lesiba Mpati at lesiba.mpati@up.ac.za
[ Download the above (Updated 25 May 2025)]
