TRAINING
Academic Council
Together with the Direction, the Academic Council mapped and redefined the departmental training tasks during the academic year 1998-1999. This was a starting point for elaborating a new framework of academic tenure positions, which is now progressively being filled. In this process the strategic options of ITM are taken into account as well as the workload in training, research and services of the different departments.
The Council furthermore contributed to shaping the new Framework Agreement between the Ministry of Education and ITM. It was also actively involved in finetuning the internal management tools that were developed over the past years.
Earlier preparatory work in the sphere of education also yielded returns. The standards and procedures developed for global quality assurance and control have from this year been applied in all our teaching programmes. The first edition of the Masters of Science in Disease Control became an undeniable success and the new modular structure of the International Diploma Course for Tropical Animal Health and Production received high marks from the participants. Currently the format and pedagogical concept of the Diploma Courses is being redesigned.
Finally, the Academic Council guided the efforts to develop joint post-academic training programmes with the Universities. Plans for a post-graduate course in International Health with the University of Ghent are being developed. At the international level we are preparing for participation in TropEdEurop (European Network for Education in International Health) and ITM’s insertion in the European Credit Transfer System.
Training programmes
Training in the fields of human and veterinary tropical medicine and health care in developing countries is one of ITMA’s core tasks. To date, over 17000 physicians, nurses, biologists, veterinarians and agronomists have obtained diplomas in tropical medicine or animal health. Well over 1000 students have been trained to the masters or doctoral level. The widely acknowledged quality of ITMA’s training programmes is based on:
- the dedication, inter-disciplinarity, field experience and academic excellence of the staff, together with a long institutional tradition of fundamental and applied research
- social relevance assured by involvement in many health programmes all over the world, and a deeply rooted commitment to the cause of developing countries and their populations
- a unique pedagogic concept which aims not only at transferring up-to-date scientific skills and technical knowledge, but also at the confrontation of personal experiences and views with staff, fellow participants, and with universal values and models of health care
As in previous years, ITM offered training at three levels in the academic year 1998-1999:
1. Diploma courses for medical,
paramedical, veterinary and agricultural professionals planning to work in tropical or developing countries
1.1. Diploma course in Tropical Medicine for medical doctors and biologists (September-February; in Dutch and French)
1.2. Diploma course in Tropical Medicine for nurses (March-June; in Dutch and French)
1.3. International Diploma Course for Tropical Animal Health and Production (Cours International en Production et Santé Tropicales Animales, CIPSAT) for veterinari-ans, biologists and agronomists (September-June, in French)
1.4. Special (short) courses:
2. International Master Degree
Courses for scientists and health professionals working in tropical or developing countries.
2.1. Masters in Public Health:
International Course in Health Development (ICHD)
Cours International pour la Promotion de la Santé (CIPS)
- September-July; 1998-1999 in French
- Planning, organisation and management of health services and health systems in the context of comprehensive development.
2.2. Masters of Sciences in Disease Control/Maîtrise en Sciences en Contrôle des Maladies
- October-September; 1998-1999 in French
- Prevention and control of specific diseases and health problems in developing countries
2.3. Masters of Science in Tropical Animal Production or Health – MScVet
3. Doctoral level
ITMA offers doctoral research training in its specific fields of interest, ranging from molecular parasitology to health systems research. The doctoral programmes are tailored to the individual needs of the trainee, and are co-supervised by the universities with which ITMA collaborates, and that award the doctoral degree.
• Bernadette Lepage is responsible for the secretariat of the diploma courses
• The International Course for Health Development (ICHD/CIPS),
class of 1998-1999
• The International Master Course of Science in Disease Control (MDC/MCM), class of 1998-1999
• The International Diploma Course for Tropical Animal Health and Production (CIPSAT), class of 1998-1999
The number and geographic origin of the participants in the different ITM training programmes during the academic year 1998-1999 can be found in the table. A list of suc-cessfully defended Masters and Doctoral dissertations is provided below.
D/F: in Dutch/French; MD: post-graduate diploma course in Tropical Medicine for medical doctors; Nurses: post-graduate diploma course in Tropical Medicine for nurses; ICHD/CIPS: International Course in Health Development/Cours International pour la Promotion de la Santé; MDC/MCM: Masters of Science in Disease Control/Maîtrise en Sciences en Contrôle des maladies; CIPSAT: International Diploma Course for Tropical Animal Health and Production; MScVet: Masters of Science in Tropical Animal Production or Health; PhD: doctoral students in the different departments; Myco: Medical Mycology; ICRH/CISR: International Course on Planning and Management of Reproductive Health Programme/Cours International sur le Planning et la Gestion des Programmes de Santé de la Réproduction, PGTHIV: Postgraduate Training on HIV, Formation post-académique sur le VIH
The Provincial Award for Development Co-operation has been assigned for the fourth time in 1999. The awards are intended to encourage the study of the Third World, par-ticularly with respect to economic, social and legal matters and health care. Six of the dissertations submitted by students enrolled in postgraduate programmes of the University of Antwerp and the Institute of Tropical Medicine won the award. Two ITM students belonged to the laureates:
- Dr. M. Placencia (ICHD) from Ecuador: "La formation des médecins dans le contexte de la réforme du secteur de la santé en Equateur"
- Dr. B. Soumare (MscVet) from Senegal: "Epidemiology of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis: Estimation of Disease Prevalence and Risk Analysis"
• In May and in June the ITM welcomed about fifty medical students from the University of Uppsala (Sweden) for a two-week introduction to Tropical Medecine.
• A few members of the Academic Council (from left to right):
R. De Deken, S. Geerts, G. Vanham, G. van der Groen, P. Van der Stuyft, B. Gryseels, M. Coosemans, U. D’Alessandro, J.P. Unger
• The other members are:
D. Berkvens, J. Brandt, Ph. Büscher, R. Colebunders, B. Criel, V. De Brouwere, A. De Muynck, G. Kegels, L. Kestens, P. Kosteren, M. Laga, D. Le Ray, M. Parent, F. Portaels, A. Stroobant, D. Swinne, M. Vandenbruaene, J. Van den Ende, M. Van Dormael, A. Van Gompel, W. Van Lerberghe, T. Vervoort.
Angaye Les obstacles à l'amélioration de la couverture vaccinale dans le district de santé de Kar-Hay (Cameroun): 36 pp.