Africa’s most advanced medical morphology learning centre launched
Combines cutting-edge technology with traditional anatomical resources
The University of Stellenbosch (US) today officially opened the Medical Morphology Learning Centre (MMLS), the largest and most technologically advanced facility of its kind in Africa.This state-of-the-art centre reimagines health sciences education and pushes the boundaries of traditional teaching methods to create an immersive, interactive learning environment.
The MMLS, located in the Biomedical Research Institute of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) on US’s Tygerberg Campus in Cape Town, combines cutting-edge technology with traditional anatomical resources and provides students with access to human anatomy through various learning modalities.
“With the MMLS, we have reimagined health sciences education, transforming learning from a passive exercise into an interactive, immersive journey,” says Prof Karin Baatjes, Vice-Dean: Learning and Teaching at the FMHS. “This cutting-edge training facility uses the latest technology to transform how students engage with the complexity of the human body.”
VR & AR
The centre is equipped with virtual and augmented reality systems, interactive touch tables that enable 3D anatomical exploration, as well as advanced 3D printing facilities to create tangible models used in surgical planning and health sciences education.
The virtual reality headset allows students to perform virtual dissections, manipulate anatomical structures in real time and examine internal systems from multiple perspectives.
Prof Simone Titus-Dawson, Head of Digital Education and Innovation in SU’s Department of Health Professions Education, underlines the pedagogical transformation: “By integrating the latest technology, we have made learning active and intuitive. Students can explore anatomy in multidimensional spaces, which enhances clinical relevance and improves learning retention.”
In addition to these technological capabilities, the MMLS has extensive traditional resources and houses over 1 300 ethically sourced human specimens covering normal and pathological morphology, as well as high-quality microscopes and curated histology slide collections for detailed tissue examination.
The facility’s comprehensive approach addresses evolving educational needs in an increasingly digital healthcare landscape. Baatjes notes: “This centre positions us to train future-ready healthcare professionals who can effectively interact with both traditional medical knowledge and emerging technologies. This will ensure that they are equipped for the healthcare challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.”