Improving Health Professional Education and Capacity in Experimental Epidemiology (HePEd)
The HePEd Project (Improving Health Professional Education and Capacity in Experimental Epidemiology) is a collaborative initiative between the University of Bergen (UiB) in Norway and Makerere University (Mak) in Uganda. Funded through the NORPART programme, the project aims to strengthen the quality of health professional education and research by fostering academic cooperation, joint mobility, and mutual learning between the two institutions.
About the research project
Purpose and Goals
The project addresses a shared ambition: to enhance teaching, learning, and research capacity in experimental epidemiology—the science of conducting randomized clinical trials and related studies.
HePEd focuses on:
- Building sustainable partnerships between UiB and Makerere University.
- Supporting capacity development in health professions education and research.
- Promoting internationalization through student and staff mobility.
- Developing joint courses and training programs for supervisors and educators.
- Establishing a community of best practice that advances innovative, evidence-informed health education.
Our Activities
Since its launch in 2022, HePEd has supported a wide range of educational and research collaborations, including:
- Joint workshops, supervision courses, and benchmarking visits.
- Exchange of master’s and PhD students between Norway and Uganda.
- Co-supervision of doctoral candidates and collaborative research projects.
- Development of teaching resources and pedagogical models tailored to health professions education.
In 2024, four graduate students from Makerere University were hosted at UiB to develop their PhD proposals and participate in the Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (TeLEd) research group. A PhD supervision course—developed jointly by UiB and Makerere staff—will be offered in Uganda in 2025.
Expected Impact
By the end of the project period, HePEd will have:
- Strengthened institutional capacity for teaching and supervision in health professions education.
- Established a network of skilled trainers in experimental epidemiology.
- Enhanced international collaboration between Norwegian and Ugandan institutions.
- Contributed to improved health outcomes through education, research, and evidence-based practice.
Inclusivity and Collaboration
HePEd promotes gender equality, inclusive participation, and cultural sensitivity across all its activities. The project ensures equal opportunities for female academics and students, supports participants with disabilities, and values reciprocal learning between partners.
Partners
- University of Bergen (UiB) – Department of Education & Centre for International Health
- Makerere University (Mak) – College of Health Sciences & School of Public Health
People
Project manager
Professor Kenan Dikilitas Project Coordinator
Professor Sarah Kiguli Partner Contact
Project members
Monika Kvernenes Project member, University of Bergen
Ian Munabi Project member, Makerere University
Aloysius G Mubuuke Project member, Makerere University
Anna Kleppe Moe Project member, University of Bergen
Contact
Project Coordinator
Professor Kenan Dikilitas
Department of Education, University of Bergen
- Emails
- kenan.dikilitas@uib.no