University of Global Health Equity (UGHE)
The University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) is a health sciences university located in the Butaro District of Rwanda, a two-hour drive from the capital city of Kigali. UGHE brings a new approach to recruiting and training health professionals. An initiative of Partners In Health and led by internationally recognized faculty and staff from around the world, UGHE is an independent university that builds on PIH’s three decades of experience in delivering health services to some of the world’s poorest communities.
Their unique focus on practical experience outside the classroom ensures that students understand the complexity of delivering care in all settings. They prepare their students to serve in any environment with humility and compassion. By infusing the best new ideas in higher education and partnering with top universities and faculty from all over the world, UGHE students become changemakers.
UGHE’s faculty of local and international implementation experts deliver world-class instruction that explores the social and systemic forces causing inequities and inefficiencies in health care delivery, preparing students to address some of the most challenging issues in global health.
- Length of rotation: Four weeks for traditional rotations, three weeks for the Global Community Based Education program
- Location: Butaro District, Rwanda
- Language Requirement: English
- Student level: M1 – M4
- How to apply: Complete the online application
Community Based Education Global Scholars Program
Community-Based Education Global Scholars Program is a 3-week program designed for international students who are enrolled in advanced health science degrees in nursing, medicine and public health, among other related fields. The University of Global Health Equity -Department of Community
Health aims to advance community health through participatory approaches, novel hands-on educational opportunities and direct service to our neighbors and communities across the globe.
CBE is a radical approach to health education that centers communities as experts, teachers and advisors on how best to identify health challenges and solve public health problems. Students will spend significant time in rural Rwanda dismantling their own biases about what is possible in rural settings, being energized by activists and community leaders, and learning how to tackle inequity as active participants rather than passive observers.
This program convenes the UGHE community with international advanced health science students in Butaro, Rwanda. The duration is 3-weeks, and the coursework (both classroom and community) occurs Monday through Friday (8-5pm). Approximately 70% of the course takes place in community settings (For example, learning from patients, meeting with community activists, engaging community leaders, visiting various healthcare delivery settings, and shadowing community health workers, among other topics). The remaining 30% will be classroom-based and interactive, allowing for dynamic discussions that push participants and the field forward.
Housing
Students visiting UGHE are offered the opportunity to stay on-campus. Residents have access to the dining hall, athletic facilities, laundry support, and are supported by campus security coverage.