Collaboration with four medical schools in Ethiopia to enhance medical education through eLearning.
eLearning in Ethiopia
UAB joined the Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) in Ethiopia as an institutional partner to advise and support in the implementation of an eLearning initiative to improve medical education in Ethiopia. Through the Sparkman Center for Global Health, UAB is actively collaborating with the Ethiopian consortium to provide training and support on the following eLearning activities:
- Installation and implementation of the eGranary Digital Library and Moodle LMS
- Development of standard guidelines for eLearning content and course coordination
- Implementation of a virtual microscopy tool
- Establishment of three classrooms with video conferencing capability at the College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University
- Procurement of 1,000 low cost tablets and other smart devices to access eLearning materials
About MEPI
MEPI grants are awarded directly to institutions African countries to support the expansion of the healthcare workforce by enhancing the quality of training and improving retention of graduates in order to better address the health needs of their respective countries. The initiative is led by the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) and co-administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The MEPI program in Ethiopia is a consortium comprised of universities in both Ethiopia and the United States.
Ethiopian Universities
- Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences (AAU-CHS), MEPI Programmatic Grant Site
- Defense Forces Medical School
- Haramaya University
- Hawassa University
U.S. Partner Universities
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Johns Hopkins University
- Emory University
- University of California San Diego
- University of Wisconsin
Activities to Date
Virtual Microscopy (January 2013)
The Sparkman Center Director, Dr. Craig Wilson, demonstrated the use of virtual microscopy and discussed how it can be used in medical education. Virtual microscopy is an electronic tool that allows faculty to teach histology and pathology without the need for microscopes, removing the need for physical space, equipment and specimens.
Installation of eGranary Digital Library at AAU (January 2013)
The eGranary is a digital library that delivers instant access to a wide variety of educational resources including video, audio, books, journals, and Web sites without the need for an internet connection. This computer based tool also contains Moodle, a built-in course management system, in addition to other tools for uploading and edit local materials. The Sparkman Center has supported more than 25 eGranary installations in Zambia and has advised and facilitated the dissemination of eGranaries for numerous organizations in Zambia and around the world.
Training of Trainers Workshop (February 2013)
Lukonga Lindunda, co-founder of BongoHive, conducted a 2 day workshop on the Moodle and eGranary platforms for 22 IT staff from the MEPI consortium as well as other medical schools in Ethiopia. BongoHive is a technology and innovation hub based in Lusaka, Zambia that serves as a key implementation partner in the Sparkman Center's eLearning activities.