The Journal of Innovation in Polytechnic Education (JIPE) is pleased to announce the publication of “An Innovative Approach to Health Sector Regulatory Compliance Education” by Shyam Mohamed, MSc. and Ajay Rampersad, MSc.
Abstract:
The essay presents the authors' experience implementing a competency-based education (CBE) pilot program for the Health Sector Regulatory Compliance (HSRC) graduate certificate program at Humber Polytechnic. It also explores the authors' experience of the design, execution, and outcomes of an innovative 18-credit integrated course, “Health Sector Regulatory Skills in Practice” (HSRC 5020), which consolidated learning outcomes from four second-semester courses.
The CBE approach prioritizes skill mastery over traditional credit-hour models, addressing the growing skills gap between academia and industry. The HSRC program’s pilot focused on students demonstrating four core competencies: Audit and Inspection Management, Risk and Compliance Management, Regulatory Research and Analysis, and Trending and Data Analysis. Faculty evaluated each competency on a scale from ‘Foundational’ to ‘Developing’ to ‘Proficient,’ providing students with regular feedback and coaching sessions. The course followed a 7-1-7 format, combining structured learning periods with a mid-term break. Implementation involved course design considerations, resource allocation, and student engagement through weekly coaching sessions and project-based learning activities. Assessment methods were diverse and authentic, including written reports, oral presentations, and digital portfolios, allowing students to demonstrate their skills through differentiated formats. The student feedback highlighted the benefits of self-paced learning, practical application of skills, and course flexibility. Students valued the autonomy to control their educational journey, emphasizing real-world scenarios. However, the challenges noted include students’ inexperience with digital portfolios and the need for enhanced communication with instructors.
The CBE pilot successfully delivered a first-of-its-kind, unified ‘open learning’ stream that provided a flexible, practical, and personalized learning experience, fostering students’ autonomy, critical thinking, and real-world readiness. Improvement recommendations include enhancing instructor-student communication and increasing industry relevance through software training and potential site visits. These findings contribute to the ongoing discussion on innovative educational approaches in higher education, particularly in professional fields requiring regulatory compliance expertise.
Read “An Innovative Approach to Health Sector Regulatory Compliance Education” in JIPE: https://doi.org/10.69520/jipe.v7i1.248
About JIPE
The Journal of Innovation in Polytechnic Education (JIPE) is an online, open-access journal that mobilizes knowledge and insights generated by the global polytechnic community. JIPE is electronically published by Humber Press at Humber Polytechnic. JIPE is accepting submissions on a rolling basis. To learn more about JIPE, please visit jipe.ca or email humberpress@humber.ca.
