This is a 0.5 FCE course that comprises 120 hours in a work environment that is external to a student's usual work environment and takes place after the student successfully completes the required courses in the MSc QIPS concentration. The external practicum is intended to be a focused work experience with measurable student-initiated learning goals that are not only tailored to each student's learning needs, but also agreed to formally by a sponsoring organization and the IHPME MSc QIPS Program Director. Specifically, the external practicum provides students with unique opportunities to further develop their knowledge and leadership skills applied to quality improvement and patient safety. The practicum is structured so that students will receive supervision and support from experienced senior health services professionals and academic faculty.

There are three key people involved in the practicum: 1) The Preceptor — a senior health services executive who acts as a mentor at the placement site. 2) The Program Director/Program Administrator — who arranges and coordinates the practicum. 3) The Student.

Objectives: the overall objective of the external practicum is to broaden and consolidate the student's skills and knowledge in leading and supporting quality improvement and patient safety by allowing students to evaluate, test, and further develop their quality improvement and patient safety competencies in a practical setting. The focus of the practicum is on the student's individual learning goals. The student is thus required to reflect on their quality improvement and patient safety knowledge and leadership skills and identify areas for further development.