The overall goal of the project is to enable three countries - Georgia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine - to build the capacity of their higher education systems to integrate the discipline of Global Health (GH) and research into their academic programs. This will be achieved through: the development of technical knowledge among partner universities on priority topics of global health and methods of research of public health, building the capacity of their academic staff in the field of pedagogical and methodological approaches to the development and implementation of new curricula, the joint development of new courses in global health and the establishment of and strengthening cooperation between universities and non-academic organizations in partner and program countries. 

The project has 3 specific objectives:

1) Development of curricula and delivery of new accredited courses on priority topics related to global health: six new accredited training courses on the main topics of public health, priority for partner universities and national health agencies of Georgia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, will be jointly developed by thematic teams of representatives from each of the partner universities and mentors from the University of Heidelberg's Institute for Global Health (HIGH). Training and mentoring will be provided to 3 faculty members from each of the seven partner universities. This ensures that designated partner HEIs have the technical knowledge and pedagogical skills to effectively implement courses and accelerate the growth and improvement of new CP centers. The new courses will be accredited by partner universities and integrated into academic degree programs. GH content will also be transmitted through two events of the PP Regional Academy in EECA (Eastern Europe and Central Asia). Students enrolled in graduate and doctoral programs at partner universities, as well as students enrolled in academic programs not related to health care (journalism, international relations, environmental research, etc.) will also participate in the new CP courses. 

2) Develop curricula and conduct new accredited courses on public health research methods in seven partner universities: three new accredited courses, priority for partner universities and national health agencies of Georgia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, will be developed jointly by an interdepartmental working group. The group will be composed of representatives from each partner institution and mentors from the University of Tromsø (UiT). For this, 2 teachers from each partner university will be provided with training and mentoring. The courses will then be taught to students enrolled in master's and doctoral programs at partner universities. 

3) Establishment of the Eastern Europe / Central Asia Regional Academic Alliance (EECA) on global health: this alliance will serve as an institutional mechanism for regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, training and research on priority issues related to public health; its creation and operation will be supported by the University of Bergen (UiB) and the Tbilisi Institute for Global Health (TIOGH). All participating universities will become founding members of the Alliance. Membership will also be offered to other universities from the EECA region, including 13 universities that expressed interest in joining such an alliance at a workshop held in 2019. The national public health agencies of Georgia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, as well as other EECA countries, will be invited to join the Alliance. The Alliance will organize annual meetings to provide a platform for discussion and exchange of experience among members on expanding CP teaching and research in the EECA region.A priority:In the long term, all partner universities recognize the need to develop a joint regional master's program in global health, which may be jointly offered by several EECA universities. The three participating countries from different geographic parts of the EECA region (Eastern Europe, South Caucasus, Central Asia) are well positioned to become a base for this. In this way, capacity building and partnerships will provide the fundamental foundation on which effective collaboration is possible after project completion.

A priority: In the long term, all partner universities recognize the need to develop a joint regional master's program in global health, which may be jointly offered by several EECA universities. The three participating countries from different geographic parts of the EECA region (Eastern Europe, South Caucasus, Central Asia) are well positioned to become a base for this. In this way, capacity building and partnerships will provide the fundamental foundation on which effective collaboration is possible after project completion.

This project is funded with the support of the European Commission.  The content of this page is the responsibility of the author and does not represent the views of the European Commission.  The Commission cannot be held responsible for the use of the information it contains.  NJSC "KazNU named after al-Farabi "