Global Health Workshops & Seminars

Research, Ethics, Culture and IRBs

The seminar is designed to raise awareness of some of the cultural, ethical and research issues involved in international service-learning, research or community outreach programs. Students can breach the rules ethical research and culturally appropriate behavior without even realizing it. Sharing photographs online, posting video on youtube, participating in online discussion forums, and blogging are all typical ways students report on or share their international experiences and they may be violating the regulations established by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The repercussions for doing so, for both students and faculty, are potentially serious.

For more information contact Mamie Sackey Harris

Chichewa Language and Culture

IGHID partners with the African Studies Center and Office of Global Health to offer a 4-part workshop, “Chichewa Language and Culture.” The workshop focuses on introductory Chichewa greetings, medical interview vocabulary, and linguistic cultural sensitivity in health services and is available to UNC students, staff and faculty who plan to work in Malawi.

For more information please visit the OGH Web site or send e-mail to ogh@unc.edu.

Triangle Seminar in African Studies

In collaboration with the UNC African Studies Center, IGHID offers a seminar series, designed to introduce health professionals to key aspects of the social, cultural, economic, and political factors that affect health care work in Africa. The target audience is health professionals in the Triangle area working or aspiring to work in African countries.

Topics include European colonialism, African independence and governance, political and ethnic conflict, changing roles of gender, biomedical research, and Africa’s position in an interconnected world.
For more information contact Barbara Anderson

Go! Global Orientation on Culture and Ethics

The GO! Initiative is designed to help students evaluate expectations, anticipate potential challenges, prepare for culture shock, and develop intercultural competencies. In addition, GO! provides an avenue for students to network and interact with others traveling to similar areas of the world. Upon their return, students will have the opportunity at a follow-up workshop to discuss their travels as well as strategies to help them cope with the many conflicting thoughts and feelings that resulted from their experience abroad.

For more information please visit Web site or send an e-mail to go@unc.edu.

Personal Safety and What is Research Online Training

As an increasing number of students seek international experiences and innovative ways of engaging globally, it has become crucial not only to ensure the health and safety of students traveling internationally but also to increase their awareness of research and similar activities that involve human subjects.

IGHID offers two undergraduate online courses to provide students with important information about domestic and international research and travel.

The Personal Safety course covers travel preparation and health and safety precautions for students planning international travel. Topics include food and water safety, malaria and other infectious diseases, cultural sensitivity, street smart tips and other important measures to help ensure personal safety and security.

The What is Research Involving Human Subjects course is designed to ensure that students planning research, study abroad, community outreach or other international or domestic service-learning activities have a basic understanding of what constitutes research involving human subjects and familiarity with some of the systems set up to help guide and protect human subjects research.

At present, these courses are being piloted to a limited number of students but may in the future be required courses for all undergraduates traveling to developing countries.

If you are in the pilot group, click here for instructions on taking the online training.