Faced with a so-called ‘quadruple burden of disease’, the South Africans’ health situation is challenged in various aspects. For this reason, SA President Jacob Zuma announced in his state of the Nation that health, and more specifically building a high quality caring capacity and promoting a healthy lifestyle, is one of the principal priorities of the government to work on in the coming 5 years. In addition, there is a serious shortage of health (care) professionals (700 000 – 1.3 million) which undermines the countries’ ability to improve health outcomes and performance of health systems. In addition to the quantitative need for more training and education of health(care) professionals, the SA department of health also urges for an improvement of current health(care) education so that (future) health professionals are better equipped in addressing SA’s quadruple burden of disease. Patient-centredness, a mind shift from 'cure to care' and target group empowerment are key in health(care) provision.In the Caring Society (CASO) project, 3 SA HEI’s (CPUT, UCT, UWC) will closely collaborate with 3 highly experienced (Urban) European HEI’s that have ample knowledge and expertise on (1) placing health(care) learners in community clinical settings (Avans); (2) teaching more basic healthy lifestyle and enhanced physical activity education (LUAS) and (3) involving local communities in health(care) education and focus on strengthening the competence level and professional position of the health(care) professional (KdG). Together they will co-create 3 highly innovative 15 ECTS (or its SA equivalence) programmes which will be attuned to local health needs thanks to the involvement of a range of local stakeholders (associated partners). By working in such a quadruple helix setting, CASO will improve the quality of SA Higher Education in the field of health and health care and simultaneously empower and support selected target groups/end-users to face SA’s health challenges.