Leading digital transformation in health and social care with new USW degree

The University of South Wales (USW) has launched a new Masters course in Leading Digital Transformation, as part of its Intensive Learning Academy for leaders and managers in health and social care.

The two-year part-time course is designed to develop leadership knowledge and skills that are critical to drive innovation for service delivery led by digital solutions.

Developed as part of USW’s Intensive Learning Academy, launched in November 2021, the MSc has been co-created with Wales’ health boards and social care organisations, and draws on the expertise from across the University and sector to create an interdisciplinary learning experience.

Spanning health and social care, leadership and change management, and digital technologies, the course aims to support leaders to challenge traditional practice, to be more curious about processes, and to ‘think digital first’ to re-imagine and improve their organisation and services for the benefit of their users, stakeholders and employees.

Part-funded by the Welsh Government, the Leading Digital Transformation Intensive Learning Academy will help health and social care practitioners to deliver transformational projects using digital solutions. Wales is the first country in the world to launch specialised Intensive Learning Academies (ILAs), with USW being the latest university to deliver this innovative training.

The MSc is made up of eight compulsory 20 credit modules, delivered through intensive short blocks of learning of up to four hours of online delivery per week, and supported by more extended periods of investigation and application.

Each module focuses on different ways in which digital solutions can be used to address the challenges facing 21st century healthcare.

Professor Bob Hudson, Director of the Intensive Learning Academy at USW, said: “The NHS is always changing, and the scale of change over the past two years has been unprecedented. We need our health and social care leaders to be equipped to meet the challenges of the future, so we’re delighted to launch the first Masters programme of our Intensive Learning Academy.

“Striving for transformational change should underpin all of our efforts in developing our services, and strong leadership is critical so that we improve experiences for patients, clinicians and the wider public. This programme will support our leaders to drive digital transformation and be a catalyst for innovation.”