Feedback Request: Proposal for New Conjoint Degree (BE(Hons)/BHLTH) at the University of Canterbury

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From Melissa Barber melissa.barber@canterbury.ac.nz…

Kia ora

I am seeking your feedback on a proposal to introduce a new qualification at the University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha: the Bachelor of Engineering with Honours and Bachelor of Health Conjoint degree (BE(Hons)/BHLTH).

Conjoint degrees are accelerated programmes designed for high-achieving students. They allow students to complete two qualifications in a shorter timeframe than usual. UC has recently launched several BE(Hons) conjoint degrees—for example, the BE(Hons)/BCom—which have been well received. Further details about conjoint degrees at UC can be found here.

We now plan to expand our offerings by introducing the BE(Hons)/BHLTH conjoint. This programme would enable students to specialise in Software Engineering | UC alongside a Bachelor of Health | UC major, such as Public Health or Māori and Indigenous Health

We would greatly appreciate your insights on:

  • The market demand within the Health IT | Digital Health industry for graduates with this qualification.

  • Specific skills and knowledge that would be most valuable for employers in this space.

Your feedback will help shape our proposal, and we would like to include your response in our proposal which will be considered internally at UC and subsequently by Universities NZ

Please provide your response by 9 February 2026. If you require any further information, feel free to contact me.

Ngā mihi nui,

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Hi Peter. This article will help with “Specific skills and knowledge that would be most valuable for employers in this space”

https://mededu.jmir.org/2024/1/e54137/

Regards

Karen

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Hi Peter,

I technically graduated about a month ago from UC with a BHSC and a minor in Information Systems, so the idea of combining software engineering and health sounds quite interesting. From my experience at uni and in the workforce, there’s real value in having a wider mix of study options available in the health sciences space.

I’d even go a step further to say it would be great to see a clearer undergraduate pathway at UC into areas like Health Informatics or Public Health Informatics, rather than these mainly being offered at a postgraduate level or requiring students to hand-pick courses to piece a pathway together.

Would UC consider adjusting the requirements for this conjoint degree, BE/BLTH, to be a purpose-built program, or is it solely a combination of two existing degrees? A lot of outcomes could result from a few considerations…

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There is a place but the health culture is so strong it can stifle innovation. The ability to bring in non-health indoctrinated people has many benefits. I wonder if we (health) need to be open to the outside rather than requiring people to join the hive mind in training. Just a thought

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