Promoting Excellence in Healthcare Education – HEA4523

Overview

Promoting Excellence in Healthcare Education focuses on designing inclusive and engaging learning experiences that support diverse learners in clinical settings. You will explore how well-structured educational activities enhance learner engagement, confidence, and deeper learning. Emphasis is placed on creating authentic, transformative experiences that connect theory to practice and professional standards. The module highlights the link between educational quality and patient outcomes, supporting you to embed inclusive, reflective, and evidence-informed approaches into your teaching which contribute to safe, compassionate, and effective clinical practice.

Module code:	HEA4253
Level:	7
Module credits:	20
Cost for new students:	£1060 for 2026/27

If you are an existing student who is undertaking this module as part of a programme, your fee will have been advised to you by email. You can also check your fees online. For any queries, please contact [email protected]

If your tuition fee is being paid by a sponsor or you are a sponsor paying a student’s fee, you are required to send a copy of a purchase order to [email protected].

For further guidance please visit: Sponsored students – Edge Hill University

Who is this module for?

Prospective participants are expected to be experienced health professionals within their field, with some involvement in clinical education. This may include, for example, supervising students on practice placements, assessing students, trainees, or junior staff in clinical skills, or delivering formal teaching sessions to learners or colleagues.

What are the key aims of the module?

This module adopts a critically reflective, evidence-informed, and practice-oriented approach suitable for Level 7 study. It is structured around the principles of constructive alignment and is underpinned by current scholarship in healthcare education, enabling learners to engage in both critical analysis and application in practice.

The assessment strategy is flexible, authentic, and integrative. You will be required to bring together theory, inclusive approaches to teaching and learning, and relevant professional and regulatory standards within your own context of practice. A choice of two assessment approaches is offered. Assessment tasks require you to critically evaluate evidence, justify your pedagogical decisions, and reflect on your own practice. Formative feedback is provided throughout the module to support your academic development and progression towards independent, critically informed educational practice.

To support the development of your assessed work, the module includes an online drop-in assessment clinic, tutor feedback on plans and a hybrid writing retreat. These provide dedicated time, structured guidance, and opportunities for peer support to help you plan, draft, and refine your work.

How will I study?

Teaching and learning is facilitated using a blended approach that combines an in-person induction and workshops, asynchronous digital activities and significant independently guided study.

You will be expected to actively engage with educational theory, critically examine relevant policies and professional standards, and apply your learning within complex clinical and academic contexts.

The module uses activities such as peer review, facilitated discussions and formative feedback to support critical thinking, encourage reflection, and foster scholarly dialogue with others.

What will I study?

Broad content will include:

This module explores the foundations of clinical teaching, alongside the application of pedagogical theory to practice. It will examine inclusive approaches to teaching. It will consider the role of diversity within clinical learning environments, with a focus on designing teaching that is accessible and inclusive for all learners.

You will critically consider how national and institutional standards of excellence in healthcare education shape and influence educational practice.

The module is enriched by contributions from guest speakers and specialist expertise from across the University, offering insights into areas such as simulation-based education, inclusive pedagogies, designing effective teaching and diversity in healthcare education.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment is flexible in format while maintaining consistent academic standards and clear alignment with the module learning outcomes. Participants are encouraged to negotiate a submission that is meaningful to their professional context.
This approach supports inclusive and alternative forms of assessment. Guidance and support in selecting and developing an appropriate assessment format will be provided by your academic tutor.

Assessment options include:
4000 word written Essay
Or
A Mind Map with a 20-minute pre-recorded commentary

Regardless of the selected format, all submissions must demonstrate a depth of critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis relevant to level 7 study, as well as reflection and alignment with relevant professional frameworks.

On successful completion you will:
Achieve 20 credits at Level 7

Study dates and venues

How to apply

Module availability varies from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Due to the popularity of some modules, it may be that the module is fully booked when your application is received. We will include your details on a waiting list and allocate you a place on the next available intake.

We encourage you to apply as early as possible to give you the best chance to obtain a place on your preferred cohort, module applications will close as soon as the module is full. Applications received within two weeks of the start date may have to be considered for a later cohort.

For details of how to apply, please visit the apply page.

Contact us

For further module information, please contact the Module Co-ordinator, Rachael Barton via email [email protected] or you can contact the Medical School on [email protected]

Pathways

This module is a core module on the PGC Health Professions Education and it can be studied on a standalone basis.