From Conceptualisation to Future Expansion: Keys to Successful Dedicated Education Unit Implementation and Sustainability

This chapter provides a foundation for those interested in setting up Dedicated Education Units. The authors summarise all steps from conceptualisation to implementation, drawing on the previous chapters in this volume and recent literature to identify and emphasise the key requisites for successful development and implementation of Dedicated Education Units. The authors use the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology/Canterbury District Health Board partnership model to illustrate how a successful Dedicated Education Unit works; an example of good practice in effective working partnerships between universities and health care service organisations. They describe the 13 steps in the initial stage, then provide seven key strategies for establishment, sustainability and looking to further develop Dedicated Education Units, proposing that you can use these to successfully develop, construct, implement, maintain and sustain interprofessional Dedicated Education Units and other practice learning and teaching innovations in a variety of work-integrated learning contexts.