This document summarizes a 6-month online training course on sexual and reproductive health research from May-October 2012. The course is organized by several international organizations and universities and aims to provide health practitioners with knowledge and skills in SRH research. The course content covers contemporary SRH issues and research methodology. Students will complete online modules, a final research paper, and a optional intensive week of training in Geneva. The course uses various online learning methods and aims to create an international network of health professionals.

1. From Research to Practice:
Training in Sexual and
Reproductive Health Research
Dr.Ayat AbuAgla

2. Organizers
• Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and
Research (WHO Collaborating Centre in Education and
Research in Human Reproduction)
• UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Program for
Research, Development and Research Training in Human
Reproduction, Department of Reproductive Health and
Research; Family and Community Health Cluster
(WHO/RHR)
• Réseau en Afrique francophone pour la
télémédecine (RAFT), HUG (Geneva University Hospitals)
• Oxford University (UK)
• Boston University (USA)
• Parma University (Italy)
• San Rafaelle (Italy)

3. The course aims
• To provide a cadre of health
practitioners in different countries
with knowledge, skills and
competencies in SRH as well as
research.

4. The course aims
• Participants will learn from first hand
health experiences in day to day
demands and through longer term
challenges in the field of sexual and
reproductive health and research.

5. Course Objectives
• To contribute to greater sharing of competence
and knowledge between health workers in
developing countries, local and international
health and training institutions.

6. Course Objectives
• To provide access to education and learning by
establishing a distance learning program to
professionals.

7. Course Objectives
• To provide skills in research methodology.
• To create a network between health
professionals of different horizons and training
and research institutions for the exchange of
knowledge and information.

8. Course Content
• The course content is designed to
address a wider range of
contemporary reproductive and
sexual health problems as well as
research in this field with a particular
focus on developing countries.

9. Course Structure
• One Core Module on research methodology and five
specific modules, which are listed below by
chronological order:
• Module Duration
• 1. Maternal and Perinatal Health with 6 weeks
• 2. Sexually Transmitted Infections & HIV 4 weeks
• 3. Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health 6
weeks
• 4. Family Planning 6 weeks
• 5. Community Genetics 4 weeks

10. Course Structure
• The Core Module is integrated within specific
modules. The lectures/ presentations,
supplementary study materials are provided in
electronic format.

11. Course Duration
• May-October 2012 6 months distance
learning
• June 2013 One week Intensive
training in WHO Geneva

12. Study materials
• In an online course, learning is
student’s responsibility – he /she
needs self-discipline and self-
directed time management skills
in-order to be successful.

13. Learning Methods
• Combination of the following teaching styles and
technologies:
• On-line presentations.
• Individual mentoring & follow-up
• Live on-line interaction with peers, tutors &
mentors
• Evaluation by mentor and coordinators

14. Learning Methods
• 2. Intensive Training Course in Geneva: The
students with high score and with a relevant
research project will be invited to participate in
an extensive training which will be organized in
WHO Head Quarters in Geneva. This will give
these students the opportunity to work more on
their research projects and to get in contact with
WHO and other partners resource persons.

15. Assignment
• Each module will contain main lectures
/presentations
• course provides access to a large number of
guidelines related to each specific module that
can be downloaded. From this point of view this
course is one of richest in the world.

16. Final Evaluation and Certification
• At the end of the course students are required to
produce a research protocol / paper, using the
knowledge acquired from this course.
• Students have also the possibility to introduce a
tutor of their choice for their research project.
The tutor can be from student’s country, from a
research entity, university or an organization.

17. • Facebook
• http://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/Training-in-
Sexual-and-Reproductive-Health-Research-
2011/189269171109136
• Skype
• http://www.skype.com/intl/en/download/skype
/windows/

18. Admission Procedures
• The following documents are required to process
the admission:
• Completed application form
• Curriculum vitae, including sections on: current
and previous positions; responsibilities in
research, teaching and clinical work; the
institution currently employed; a list of
publications (if available)
• Certified copy of the university diploma/s

19. Admission Procedures
• letter of motivation
• An outline of the scientific paper that will be
completed/written up as part of the exams
• official attestation confirming proficiency in the
English language
• Two letters of reference
• if possible, an introduction by the candidate's
Head of Department stating her/his current role
and future involvement in the country's National
Reproductive Health Program.

20. Costs
• The tuition fee is CHF 500 per participant.

21. Application Submission Deadline
• 15 April 2012
• The application form is available on:
• http://www.gfmer.ch/SRH-Course-2011/

22. Questions

23. Goodluck