7 July 2010

Published at: http://www.monash.edu.au/news/monashmemo/assets/includes/content/20100707/stories-uni-news1.html

Monash University continued its commitment to engagement with Africa by hosting a panel discussion featuring Executive Director of the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), Dr Alex C Ezeh.

Dr Ezeh has more than 20 years of experience working in public health and has authored numerous scientific publications covering the issues of population, demographics, health and health metrics.

Leverage for Social Change – Capacity Building in Africa was held at Monash University's Caulfield campus on 1 July 2010 and was supported by the Monash-Warwick partnership initiative.

Dr Ezeh was joined by Warwick University's Professor Margaret Thorogood and Dr Ngiana-Bakwin Kandala, along with Monash University's Professor Lenore Manderson and Professor Helen Keleher.

The open-panel discussion enabled participants to discover further information about the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA), of which Monash is a partner.

CARTA is an African initiative, which involves 15 African-based universities and research institutes, and six universities and institutes based around the world including Warwick University, World Health Organisation Special Program for Training and Research in Tropical Diseases and Monash University.

Focusing on public and population health, CARTA's mission is to support PhD training and to strengthen research infrastructure in African institutions in order to build a vibrant and competitive research culture in Africa. Through support from The Wellcome Trust, The Gates Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, The Hewlett Foundation and The Ford Foundation, CARTA will be offering approximately 100 fully-funded collaborative doctoral fellowships in Africa over the next four years, training for librarians and strengthening of research office infrastructure and governance of research.

Monash's involvement in CARTA will be active, and includes co-supervision, participation as facilitators in advanced research seminars and supporting teaching programs and strengthening of research support. CARTA provides many opportunities for Monash staff to collaborate with educators, industry, business and government to ensure the University's international reach will benefit Africa and Africans.

Further information is available online about CARTA and Monash University's international presence.