Language-based equity in African health research

Discover top findings and recommendations from a Wellcome-commissioned study on language-based equity in African health research.

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Date
30 Nov 2021
Time
13:00-14:30 UTC

Join us at our upcoming webinar to discover findings from a Wellcome-commissioned research into language-based equity in African health science research, hosted by the ACU and supported by the International Association of Universities (IAU).

Of the 1.33 billion people in Africa, only 6.5 million are native English speakers. However, English has been referred to as the dominant global language of scientific communication and publication, which raises efficacy and equity concerns.

The Wellcome-commissioned research study sought to determine whether the status of English as the dominant language of science is contributing to wider structural inequalities within health science research. The full study report and policy brief are now available in English, and translated versions in French, Portuguese, Arabic and Swahili are available here.

What will the webinar cover?

During the webinar, speakers from the research team, led by Dr Aaron Yarmoshuk, Independent Consultant and Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto, will present the key findings and recommendations from the language equity study. External global experts will also be taking part in the conversation.

Live translations will be available in English and French.

This event is free and open for all to register. Colleagues across the ACU membership, particularly those specialising in health sciences and research management, are encouraged to attend to discover the latest insights on language-based equity. 

Register

Deadline to register: Friday, 26 November at 12pm UTC

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Chair 

Dr Hilligje van’t Land, Secretary General of the International Association of Universities (IAU)

For the past two decades, she has fostered the key role of higher education in societal transformation. She supervises the overall programme activities of the IAU, develops the Association’s strategic plans and oversees the everyday work of the secretariat. She positioned the IAU as partner in UNESCO work on Education for sustainable development and in the UNESCO Futures of Education initiative, and higher education as a key stakeholder for the UN Agenda 2030 – Transforming our world. Hilligje van’t Land strongly believes in the importance of international cooperation and intercultural understanding and has developed multilateral projects related higher education and beyond. She represents IAU in various working groups and expert committees including at the Council of Europe, UNESCO and the UN.

Hilligje van’t Land holds a PhD in comparative francophone literature, speaks six languages and published on higher education issues of relevance locally and globally.

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Dr Aaron Yarmoshuk, Independent Consultant & Adjunct Lecturer, University of Toronto, Canada

Dr Yarmoshuk is a Freelance Consultant and Researcher with over 25 years of experience in 16 African countries.  He supports organisations with identifying, developing and monitoring and evaluating projects and programmes in the areas of capacity strengthening, public health, higher education internationalisation and community development. He has professional experience in academia and the not-for-profit and private sectors, specializing in strategy, project development and implementation, results-based management and cost-effective, robust monitoring and evaluation.

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Doreen

Dr Doreen Mloka, Senior Lecturer, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania

Dr Mloka is a senior lecturer and scientist in Microbiology and Medical Education based at the School of Pharmacy and Directorate of Continuing Education and Professional Development, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) in Tanzania. Her background is in medical microbiology, she concurrently focuses on medical/health profession education. She has expertise in competency-based curriculum development. She has also been involved in curricular development, learning and assessment faculty development for faculty and tutors of both government and private health training institutions.

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