Africa Center of Excellence Project (ACE) – ACE II MUST 44

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS for a Short Course

Certificate of Production and Quality

Assurance of Herbal Medicine

2020

Hosted By

Pharm-Bio Technology and Traditional Medicine Center (PHARMBIOTRAC)

Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)

Faculty of Medicine

Department of Pharmacy

and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

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CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

for a

Short Course

Certificate of Production and Quality Assurance of Herbal Medicine

2020

Hosted By Pharm-Bio Technology and Traditional Medicine Center (PHARMBIOTRAC) Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) Faculty of Medicine Department of Pharmacy and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

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Content

Abbreviations / List of Acronyms ............................................................................................ 3

1. Summary ............................................................................................................................ 4

2. Background ....................................................................................................................... 4

3. Course Description ........................................................................................................... 5

4. Mode of Study ................................................................................................................... 5

5. Admission Requirements/Eligibility ................................................................................. 5

6. Application ......................................................................................................................... 5

7. Sponsorship for Course ................................................................................................... 6

8. Fees Structure and Payment ............................................................................................ 6

9. Selection and Notification ................................................................................................ 7

10. Course Organization...................................................................................................... 7

11. Important dates for 2020 intake .................................................................................... 8

12. Course coordinators...................................................................................................... 8

Abbreviations / List of Acronyms

ACE Africa Center of Excellence

MUST Mbarara University of Science and Technology

PHARMBIOTRAC Pharm-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine Center

UACE Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education

UCE Uganda Certificate of Education

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1. Summary

The Africa Center of Excellence (ACE) for Pharm-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine (PHARMBIOTRAC) is based at the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), a public university located in Southwestern Uganda about 260 km from Kampala, the Capital City of Uganda.

PHARMBIOTRAC is pleased to invite applications from highly motivated, talented, practically-focused and qualified candidates for admission in the Short Course: Certificate of Production and Quality Assurance of Herbal Medicine. This course shall enable the holder to be equipped with knowledge and skills in: cultivation, sustainable harvesting, processing and extraction methods of medicinal plants; quality assurance and quality control of herbal materials; production and quality control of liquid, semi-solid and solid herbal dosage forms; research, commerce, innovation and regulation of herbal medicine.

2. Background

The Pharm-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine Center (PHARMBIOTRAC) is one of the 24 Eastern and Southern Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence (ACE II) Programs. PHARMBIOTRAC is established at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) since 2017, with the financial support from the World Bank.

The Goal of PHARMBIOTRAC is "to build a critical mass of specialized and skilled human resource that can advance traditional medicine and pharm-biotechnology for socio-economic development of Africa."

The Vision is "to be a leading Africa Center of Excellence for training and research in traditional medicine and pharm-biotechnology."

The Mission is "to contribute to documentation, validation and value chain development of traditional medicine and biotechnology products for use in pharmaceutical and nutraceuticals industries in the region through training, research and community services for sustainable development.”

The Specific Objectives include to:

strengthen capacity in the region to train highly skilled and specialized professionals in traditional medicine and bio-pharmaceuticals

strengthen capacity in the region to engage in cutting edge research in traditional medicine and systems biology for health products development

create capacity in collaboration with private sector industry for development, production and commercialization of traditional medicines, biopharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals from research outputs

advance the practices of traditional medicine in the region and promote domestication and sustainable utilization of medicinal species.

To achieve its objectives, PHARMBIOTRAC is inviting applications from highly motivated, talented, practically-focused and qualified candidates for admission in the Short Course: Certificate of Production and Quality Assurance of Herbal Medicine.

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3. Course Description

The purpose of this course is to provide a unique platform to train local, regional and international participants in key competences in production and quality assurance of herbal medicine. The course comprises 4 modules:

Module I: Introduction to Herbal Medicine: Introduction and Related Terminologies; Cultivation of Medicinal Plants; Sustainable Harvesting and Processing; Extraction Methods (Theory and Practical); Quality Assurance and Quality Control of Herbal Materials

Module II: Production and Quality Control (QC) of Liquid and Semi-Solid Herbal Dosage Forms: Preparation and Quality Control of Herbal Solutions and Syrups; Suspensions; Creams, Lotions and Gels; Ointments and Pastes; Natural Perfumes

Module III: Production and Quality Control of Solid Herbal Dosage Forms: Preparation and Quality Control of Herbal Powders and Granules; Herbal Capsules; Herbal Tablets; Soaps (Shower gels, Liquid Soaps and Tablets)

Module IV: Research, Innovation, Commerce and Regulation of Herbal Medicine: Research, Innovation, Commerce, National and International Regulations of Herbal Medicine

4. Mode of Study

This course shall be run under two modes of study which are:

(A) Modular course: 1 module in a month (1 week per month for 4 months)

(B) Intensive course: 4 modules in a month (4 weeks consecutive in a block)

5. Admission Requirements/Eligibility

Applicants should be able to understand, communicate, read and write in English and demonstrate understanding of basic scientific concepts and practices.

6. Application

The following documents are required for application for this course:

1. A scanned copy of the application fee pay slip/receipt

2. Duly filled application form

3. A typed motivation letter (why you are interested in the course)

4. A curriculum vitae (CV)

5. Copies of any relevant academic documents (e.g. for Ugandans: UCE Certificate or its equivalent, UACE Certificate or its equivalent; including university or higher institution or vocational academic certificates or their equivalents)

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6. Copies of valid national identification card (for Ugandans) or passport for (non-Ugandans)

7. Applicants from countries where English is not the medium of instruction must provide an English proficiency certificate from a relevant body or institution in their respective countries

8. Recommendation letter from employer (if any) or from Local Council chairperson (local leaders)

9. Sponsorship letter from an organization providing funding (if any)

Application forms can be accessed online through the link: https://pharmbiotrac.must.ac.ug/event/cpqahm/

The application fee shall be UGX 30,000 per Course (4 modules) for East Africans and USD 20 for other regional and international participants.

The Application shall be addressed to the Director, PHARMBIOTRAC.

The deadline for application is:

(A) Modular course: 29th February, 2020 (B) Intensive course: 1st May, 2020

Applicants must send scanned (soft) copies of the above listed documents in the order stated above (i.e. documents 1 to 9), merged into one PDF document (i.e. not in separate files as separate documents).

The combined PDF document should be sent via email to the address pharmbiotrac@must.ac.ug using the subject: Application for Certificate Course – Full Names (e.g. Application for Certificate Course – Tamale Christine).

7. Sponsorship for Course

PHARMBIOTRAC shall not offer any scholarship opportunities for this short course. Participants are expected to cater for all potential fees (course fees, transport, upkeep, accommodation, etc.) required to undertake this course i.e. self-sponsorship.

However, other funding avenues are welcome, such as scholarships or sponsorships from other organizations. This must be declared during the application and a letter showing the same attached. Otherwise, the application shall be considered self-sponsored. Despite the mode of sponsorship, the same application guidelines including payment procedures shall be followed.

8. Fees Structure and Payment

All fees shall be paid at least 1 week prior to the start of the course or module. The course fee shall be UGX 500,000 per module for East Africans and USD 300 for other regional and international participants. Therefore, East African participants shall pay a total of UGX 2 million while other participants shall pay USD 1,200 each for the entire course.

For clarity; for the modular course, payment may either be done per module or for the entire course but at least 1 week before start of the module or course, while for the

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intensive course, the entire total fees shall be paid at once at least 1 week before start of the course.

Note that application fees and course fees shall not be refundable. A prospective participant may choose to attend the course when next offered in the same calendar year, upon request from the host.

Note that payment shall be deposited on the following PHARMBIOTRAC bank account in Standard Chartered Bank (in both UGX and USD). Evidence of payment (e.g. pay slips or receipts or information on electronic transfer of funds) should be scanned and sent to the email address provided above.

UGX (Uganda Shillings) Account Bank Name: Standard Chartered Bank Uganda Limited Account Name: MBARARA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-PHAMBIOTRAC Account Number (UGX): 0102808265800 Bank Branch: Village Mall Branch

USD (United States Dollars) account Bank Name: Standard Chartered Bank Uganda Limited Account Name: Mbarara University of Science and Technology-PHARMBIOTRAC Swift Code: SCBLUGKA Bank Address: Standard Chartered Bank Uganda Limited, 5 Speke Road Branch, P.O. Box 7111, Kampala Currency: United States Dollar (USD) Account Number: 8702808265800 City and Country: Kampala, Uganda INTERMEDIARY/CORRESPONDENT BANK DETAILS (for international transfers) Bank Name: Standard Chartered Bank Uganda Limited Swift Code: SCBLUS33 Bank Address: Standard Chartered Bank, One Madison Avenue, New York 10010 – 3603 Currency: United States Dollar (USD)

9. Selection and Notification

Successful applicants that meet the eligibility criteria will be notified within one week from the deadline with a provisional admission letter. The admission shall be confirmed after payment of the course fees proved by sending a scanned copy of the course fee pay slip/receipt (see: Important dates for 2020 intake) to the email address: pharmbiotrac@must.ac.ug

10. Course Organization

Venue: The course shall be undertaken at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Pharmaceutical Science Laboratory and PHARMBIOTRAC Production Lab. Other possible training sites shall be communicated later.

Time/Days: Trainings shall begin from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm from Monday to Saturday. The module/weekly/course timetable shall be given priorly.

Delivery mode: The course shall be a day course, enriched with majorly practical but also theoretical sessions and fieldwork.

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Target Participants: Herbalists, traditional health practitioners, herbal medicine training facilitators, health practitioners, pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, pharmacologists and other scientists interested in herbal medicine.

Personal Course Requirements: Each participant should come with: white laboratory coat, a pair of white gumboots, safety gloves, note books, pens, and other necessities deemed appropriate.

11. Important dates for 2020 intake

Item Date/Period (A: Modular course)

Date/Period (B: Intensive Course)

Application submission deadline 29th February, 2020 1st May, 2020

Notification of successful candidates

7th March, 2020 10th June, 2020

Course fees Payment deadline 17th March, 2020 5th July, 2020

Reporting date and registration 22nd March, 2020 2nd August, 2020

Module I 23rd to 28th March, 2020 3rd to 8th August, 2020

Module II 20th to 25th April, 2020 10th to 15th August, 2020

Module III 25th to 30th May, 2020 17th to 22st August, 2020

Module IV 22nd to 27th June, 2020 24th to 29th August, 2020

12. Course coordinators

Dr. Anyase Ronald Amaza (BPharm, M.P.S, MSc Fellow) and Dr. Ogwang Patrick Engeu (BPharm, M.P.S, MSc, PhD)

Contact us: Email: pharmbiotrac@must.ac.ug, Telephone: +256 787 998 145 / WhatsApp: +256 752 033 629

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