Reflections on Experiential Learning in the Bachelor of Public Health

Field placements are an important part of vocational courses offered by universities. They provide an opportunity where theory informs practice and in turn, practice informs theory. This contributes to the overall development of the student, the academic and field mentors, best practice in the field, the relevance of the course, and respect for the roles played in the maturing of the student. Experiential learning is a student-focused approach which engages the learner in action, reflection and transformation (Beard and Wilson 2002). This paper reflects on two field experience units where this approach to learning opportunities for maturation, and the development of critical, pragmatic and systems thinking is planned for by the student, the academic mentor and the field mentor with the primary aim of the student achieving workplace capability.