A strategy for the recruitment of underrepresented disadvantaged black students to the department of physiotherapy, University of Cape Town

Abstract

The lack of Black physiotherapists affects the profession, the delivery of quality service and the education of students. This project was carried out in order to reach Black scholars to inform them of the career opportunities for physiotherapists and that training opportunities are available for everyone at UCT. Thirty-one schools previously under the DET system were visited annually for 3 years by small groups of third year students in order to increase the pool of Black applicants. Findings of the scholars’ awareness of physiotherapy and the number of subsequent applications are presented.Practical problems in carrying out the visits are discussed, and recommendations made for future projects of this nature.

Keywords

• Recruitment
• black disadvantaged students
• awareness of physiotherapy