Ecohealth training and awards program

Since 1997, the IDRC has played an important role in training and promoting the Ecohealth approach through the Ecohealth Training and Awards Program. Ecohealth scholars are taught about the methods and principles of the ecosystem approaches to health before beginning an international or other relevant field placement.
More recently, the IDRC re-evaluated its role in the dissemination of the Ecohealth approach by supporting initiatives such as communities of practice, which promote a pro-active role in the dissemination of this approach. The IDRC also recognized the need for a wider involvement of academic centres and universities in the training and mentoring of graduate students in Canada.

These concerns triggered the creation of a consortium of three universities (University of Guelph, Université du Québec à Montréal, University of British Columbia) with a mandate to build and deliver an intensive two week long training course in the Ecohealth approach, and manage the allocation of scholarships funded by the IDRC.

The formation

CoPEH-Can offers an Ecohealth course and the first edition took place in Vancouver, August 5-15 2008. The second edition will take place at the University of Guelph during the summer of 2009. The training will adhere to the following guidelines:

• utilize mixed pedagogical methods- instructional courses, case studies, field work, interdisciplinary group work, etc. with learning-centred evaluation tools;
• promote the application of the Ecohealth approach in an international and developmental context;
• understand and work with key ethical principles and concepts;
• develop understanding of participatory research and collaborative learning, with the inclusion of key stakeholders and linkages within and between different communities, cultures and ways of knowing;
• provide a training environment that supports the use of English and French as much as possible.

To achieve the above, the training will be offered by a teaching team which will:

• maintain a high teacher/student ratio;
• favour teamwork;
• favour a diversity of scholarly traditions and experiences (natural sciences, health sciences , social sciences and humanities).

The awards

Through the financial support of the IDRC, CoPEH-Can will offer supporting awards to participate to the Ecohealth Training. It will also offer research awards to conduct international development field research.