OBJECTIVE: This qualitative study aimed to get to know the meaning of the Experience and Training Program in the Reality of the Single Health System (VER-SUS) for healthcare students' education. METHODS: Participants were ten students from public and private schools. Semi-structured questions were used for data collection. The answers were subject to thematic analysis, revealing three categories: knowledge about SUS in the education process; VER-SUS as an instrument for insertion into academic policies and/or other social movements; VER-SUS and academic education. RESULTS: The results showed that participation in VER-SUS contributed to individual improvement, highlighting its importance as a public policy. It represented a triggering factor of participation in social and especially student movements. Despite the quality of the experience, application by the group will be difficult, due to the faculty members' lack of knowledge and/or little interest in SUS. CONCLUSION: VER-SUS is important for education, despite its small range, and can contribute to the political education of future professionals. It permits interdisciplinary and multiprofessional insertion into education.
Single Health System; Public health; Education; Health policy; Health manpower; Health human resource training