Program Overview

Community-Based Education Global Scholars Program is a 3-week program based in Burera District, Northern Rwanda 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.

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Program Format

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.

• 10-15 field site visits across Rwanda with a particular focus on rural settings.
• Interactive lectures and presentations led by UGHE /PIH faculty and community members.
• Team-based learning projects, games and activities.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students will have developed and strengthened the skills required to:

• Assess and identify community strengths and assets that advance health and wellness.
• Remove paternalistic techniques from professional practice and organizational culture.
• Co-develop community health programs that are sustainable and led by affected persons.
• Identify racism, colonialism and other determinants of poor health and take action toward dismantling these structures and their impacts on health.
• Advocate for equity in education, housing, food, water and other domains relevant to improving the living conditions of people living at the margins of society.
• Effectively collaborate with communities in problem identification and problem-solving, while placing the expertise and the needs of communities at the center of decision-making.
• Understand Rwanda’s community health system and the relevance of the Rwandan approach to other country contexts.

Eligibility Requirements

Our eligibility requirements help prospective CBE-Global scholars determine if they can apply:

1. Currently enrolled in advanced health science degrees in nursing, medicine, and public health, among other fields, and completed at least one year.
2. A minimum of two years of work experience and internships may apply.
3. A GPA of at least 3.0 or a B average reflected on an unofficial transcript.
4. Passionate and driven to learn from and work with their communities to improve health outcomes.

CBE Global is seeking 20 passionate health science students from across the globe. The following are the steps to joining the class of CBE Global Scholars:

1. Submit the CBE-Global Scholars application packet here
2. Attach an unofficial transcript of your current program.
3. Letters of recommendation are due on the deadline and sent directly from the recommender to the CBE-G admissions team via email: commhealth@ughe.org
4. All applications are screened and reviewed by the CBE admissions team
5. Selected candidates will be invited for interviews
6. Decisions are sent out on April 12, 2024

Timeline and Cost

Frequently Asked Questions

WELCOME TO GLOBAL COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATION (GCBE)

All across the globe, health science students are prioritizing equity and the dissection of key concepts including social justice and structural determinants of health. UGHE welcomes you to rural Rwanda to expand this knowledge, and to identify your individual and institutional contributions to eliminating injustice in health. We accompany students on their analytical journey and center Rwanda’s expertise in community health and sustainable development. 

WHAT IS CBE GLOBAL? 

GLOBAL CBE is an immersive, 3-week contextual learning experience hosted in rural Rwanda. It is a dynamic opportunity for advanced health science students to observe and learn from community health workers, rural nurses, primary care physicians, data managers, and public health practitioners in diverse settings across the country. Students will also have the opportunity to learn from Partners in Health global health leaders who are bringing about positive change in various countries. 

CBE is not a holiday or voluntourism but rather a direct opportunity to learn from grassroots expertise on community health, social medicine, and high-quality public health practice. 

WHY INVEST IN CBE AT UGHE? 

For more than a century, modern approaches to medicine, nursing and public health have argued that communities should be at the center of this work. However, in practice, these professions have exalted the knowledge and preferences of international agencies, clinicians, and other powerful actors – with limited attention to the demands of affected communities. 

CBE is one approach to tackling this oppressive history within these professions. CBE exposes students to the power of communities, and the health expertise among women, elders, and others. UGHE is well-placed to deliver this radical learning experience. 

Located in rural Rwanda, UGHE is privileged to observe and support actions led by secondary schools, agricultural cooperatives, women’s groups, local health facilities, and youth organizations. These leaders present a model of community power that centers on health equity. 

WHEN DOES IT TAKE PLACE? 

The CBE program is implemented twice a year, July-August, and February-March to align closely with the academic calendars of source universities. 

HOW DO I APPLY FOR GLOBAL CBE? 

The application package includes (1) an application form, (2) a personal statement, and (3) an interview. Applications are submitted to commhealth@ughe.org 

WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM ACCEPTED? 

Once accepted, you will spend 60-70% of your time in community settings (i.e., learning from farmers, meeting with community activists, shadowing community health workers). The remaining 30-40% will be classroom-based interactive lectures, team-based learning projects, analytical activities, dynamic presentations, and high impact discussions. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CBE PROGRAM IN RWANDA? 

GLOBAL CBE is catered to students from outside Rwanda. The program is available to people pursuing undergraduate health science degrees in public health, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and other health sciences. 

WHAT IS THE DURATION OF THE PROGRAM? 

GLOBAL CBE is a 3-week intensive program and requires 100% participation in all phases of the educational experience. Requests to arrive late or leave early will not be accepted. 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? 

The 3-week full-time program is USD $4,675. This is inclusive of in-country transportation, housing, food, medical insurance, community-based site visits across Rwanda, classroom-based teaching, learning supplies and materials. This price does not include flights and visas. 

HOW CAN THESE COSTS BE COVERED? WILL I GET COURSE CREDIT? 

UGHE and the Global CBE Scholars program are open to flexible approaches to funding and course credit, led by the host university. To discuss further, please contact our office. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION 

Please contact the Community Health and Social Medicine Department at commhealth@ughe.org.

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