The Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation (CERHI) is a World Bank supported program at the University of Benin aimed at building capacity within West and Central Africa’s tertiary educational system for implementing high quality training and applied research for reproductive health professions to tackle policies and programs for reducing the region’s high burden of fertility, unsafe abortion, maternal mortality and HIV/AIDS.This program is being implemented by the University of Benin in collaboration with partner institutions – the University of Ibadan, the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo State,Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the University of Niger, Harvard School of Public Health, Queen’s University, Belfast, the University of Maryland and the University of Leeds, UK.
As part of its mandate, the Centre calls for applications from postgraduate students in all development related disciplines, postgraduate theses supervisors and teachers, and policies/programme implementersin West and Central Africa for admission into a one-week Certificate Course on Building Research Evidence for Effective Policy Transfer and Development Implementation in the Region.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives of the course are 8-fold:
1)To update the knowledge of participants on methods of conducting effective literature review, systematic reviews and meta-analysis, and summarising existing literature for research planning;
2)To review new methods and advances in writing Master’s and PhD theses and research dissertations that meet international standards and in compliance with national and international accreditation requirements;
3)To provide examples of highly successful Masters and PhD theses in development sciences that make substantial contributions to existing developmental paradigms;
4)To review methods and procedures for writing and submitting papers to high ranking journals, choose journals for publication, and for successfully publishing papers in high ranking journals;
5)To describe methods for effectively using the library and online educational resources for research and development of theses and journal articles;
6)To review effective methods of strategic communication of research results;
7)To describe the principles of policy formation and how researchers can link their research findings to existing national and international policies on social development; and
8)To describe and demonstrate the use of “EQUIST” as a standard online tool for research planning and for linking research to development issues such as social equity, inequality and development aspirations.
WHO SHOULD APPLY
We strongly advice that Course Applicants should be Masters and PhD students or graduates in fields such as reproductive health, Nursing, Public Health, Economics (including health economics), pharmacy, the social sciences, other sciences (including technology, engineering and mathematics, law and medicine in West and Central African region. Also recommended to apply are teachers, supervisors and trainers of postgraduate students as this course will greatly expand their knowledge and skills on mentoring and research supervision. Policymakers working in related MDAs and educational regulatory institutions are also encouraged to apply.
WORKSHOP DATES
The workshop dates are July 17, to July 21, 2017. Arrival is July 16, while Departure is July 22, 2015.
METHOD OF APPLICATION
Applications with names and contact information (including emails and telephone numbers) and their current portfolios should be forwarded to the Course Coordinator.
All applications should be returned with a bank draft for N50, 000 ($300.0) being the workshop fee (excluding accommodation, feeding and other incidentals) drawn in favour of “Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation, CERHI”.
However, the first 10 applicants from countries outside Nigeria would be offered scholarships to attend the course and also free accommodation in the University’s international residential area. Also, participants from all CERHI’s partner institutions will receive a 50% discount to attend the course.
UNIBEN CERHI Short Course Agenda
Applications should be submitted in triplicates to:
Dr. Alphonsus Isara
Course Coordinator
Centre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation (CERHI)
Head, Department of Community Medicine
University of Benin,
Ugbowo Campus, Benin City. Nigeria