lnstitute of Tropical MedicineFoundation of Public Utility

Department of Biomedical Sciences

Subject: additional training - MSc (duration ten months) or modules (short training sessions of a few weeks)

- 15 DGD training fellowships

Dear Director / Dear colleague,

Being the Educational Coordinator of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the lnstitute of TropicalMedicine Antwerp (ITMA), I have the honour to forward you enclosed documentation relating to a training forprofessionals involved in animal health control organised by our Department.

The "Master of Science in Tropical Animal Health" (MSTAH) is a postgraduate modular course starting01/09/2014 and ending 02/07/2015. The MSTAH is lectured in English. The academicyear 2Ot4-2OtS will bethe last year in which the course is taught in its present form. From 2016 onwards we will introduce anextended use of e-learning components in collaboration with the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseasesof the Universityof Pretoria (UP).The reformed and blended programmewill be posted onthiswebsite in duetime.

Although the MSTAH course aims at conveying practical and managerial skills to its students, its generalorientation is academic and initiates students in the conduct and application of scientific research. lt targets aninternational audience of professionals involved in the disease control or research of husbandry animals in lowand middle income countries. The course does not provide biological or clinical training for veterinarypractitioners.

With the financial support of the Directorate-General for Development (DGD), the lnstitute of TropicalMedicine is able to offer 15 complete fellowships to applicants from developing countries. For more info,please check the brochure or send an e-mail to the course secretariat (MSTAH-MSSAT@ite.be). The coursesecretariat will assist all suitable candidates with their search in finding a scholarship.

The Department of Biomedical Sciences would be grateful to you if you could identify in your entouragecandidates who, by their excellence, would deserve to take part in this training. Be assured that, if yourcollaborator will be able to attend the course, we will do our utmost to deserve your confidence and to assurean excellent training for him.Kind regards

Dr. Eric ThysEducational CoordinatorDepartment of Biomedical Sciences

lnstituteofTropical Medicine I Foundationof publicutility I RPR04i0.057.701 | IBANBE38220053111172Nationalestraat 155 | 2000 Antwerpen I Belgium I Tel: +32 (O\f 247 66 66 | Fax: +32 (0)3 216 14 31 | F-mail: info@itg.be I Website: www.itg.be

MSc in TropicalAnimal Health 201,4-2015 Antwerp, L6/09/20L3

I nstituut voor Tropische Geneesl<undelnstitut de M6decine Tropicalelnstitute of Tropical Medicine

Foundation of Public Utility

Master of Science in TropicalAnimal Health

Course coordinator: Eric Thys

Course director: Pierre DornyCourse secretariat: Nadia Ehlinger

Contact:Tel: +(32)3 247 63 52

Fax:+(32)3 247 6268nehlinger@itg. be

ITM's Master of Science in Tropical Animal Health (MSTAH) is a ten-month internationalcourse for animal health professionals working in low and middle-income countries.The MSTAH draws on ITM's unique expertise and benefits from the rich exchangeof experience between students from many different regions. English is the courselanguage.

The main objective of this Master course is to contribute to the prevention and controlof animal diseases in the tropics, the development of a sustainable and healthylivestock production and thus improve food security and food safety for man. ltemphasises controlling zoonotic diseases for human health development. The practicaland theoretical training will enable participants to rationally analyse epidemiologicalsituations and manage veterinary research and development programmes with a focuson animal (zoonotic) disease control projects.Although the MSTAH aims at conveying practical and managerial skills to its participants,its general orientation is academic and initiates students in the conduct and applicationof scientific research. lt targets an international audience of professionals involved indisease control or research in animal health in LMIC.

The course does not provide biological or clinical training for veterinary practitioners.

Course programme and course objectivesThe MSTAH is organised in collaboration with several Belgian and foreignuniversities, as well as with experts from international veterinary research institutesand consultancy firms. The modular structure of the course allows opening mostmodules to non-degree students. They can do so in the framework o'f continuousprofessional development or to obtain credits within a PhD programme.The academic year 2OL4-2OLS will be the last year in which the course is taught in itspresent form. From 2016 onwards we will introduce an extended use of e-learningcomponents in collaboration with the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases

of the University of Pretoria (UP). The reformed and blended programme will beposted on this website in due time.

fhe 20L4-201-5 programme is a 60 credit programme (according to the European

Credit Transfer and accumulation System - ECTS) and has two main parts:

The first part consists of the following modules that total 35 credits:. Research methodology in animal health (3 credits). Geographical information systems (3 credits). Laboratory diagnosis (6 credits). Control of vector-borne parasitic diseases (6 credits). Control of viral and bacterial infectious diseases (4 credits). Control of helminthic diseases (4 credits). Epidemiology (9 credits)

All modules ore also offered as stand-olone courses.

The second part of the MSc programme consists of a personal research in the form ofa master thesis. The thesis will be carried out with the guidance of a supervisor. The

thesis is defended before an international examination board and counts for 25 credits.

Participants are encouraged to work on primary or secondary data, obtained in theirhome country. The Department of Biomedical Sciences of ITM or other research

institutes may also put relevant data at the participant's disposal.

The objectives of the modules are to:. Provide participants with the necessary skills to organise research activities

on animal health in a context of sustainable livestock development in low and

middle income countries.. lncrease the participant's capacity in survey design and elaborating

question naires.. Strengthen the participants' scientific writing and presentation skills of

research results.. Familiarise the participant with the use of geographical information systems,

enhancing her/his skills to understand epidemiological processes and toelaborate decision making support systems.

. Familiarise the student with the main concepts of molecular biology, thelaboratory diagnostic techniques and the principles of good laboratorypractice.

. Provide basic knowledge and technical skills to improve integrated control ofvector-borne diseases, in particular those transmitted by ticks or tsetse flies.

. Familiarise the participants with important infectious diseases to allow themto collaborate actively and efficiently in a control programme.

. Provide an introduction to the control of helminth infections of economic orpublic health importance in the tropics.

. Allow candidates to apply the theory acquired in epidemiology, diagnosis and

disease control on a specific disease situation.. Provide candidates with the tools to analyse experimental and

epidemiological data, and to perform a detailed risk analysis in the context ofveterinary epidemiology.

Teaching methods and support to participantsThe course is experience-based and a mixture of teaching methods is used duringthe training. Coached self-study is an integral part of the course. We also organiseproblem solving exercises as well as case studies to strengthen the skills of theparticipants.Exchanging experience with students from different regions and with students of theMaster of Public Health strengthens the learning process in a "One Health" concept.

The participants'thesis work is focused on a research problem related to the controlof animal disease or zoonoses in the tropics or on research on animal or zoonoticpathogens.Each participant is assigned to a staff member for supervision of the thesis work. Atthe start of the course, the research topic is defined in agreement with the student'ssu pervisor.

Assessment and degreeDifferent methods (oral and written exams, evaluation of groupswork, individualpresentations or practical's ...) are used to assess students.The importance of four assessment elements is reflected in their weight (percentage)

in the final grade:o Tests (50%). Professional Competences, including soft skills (IO%). Thesis document (20%). Final examination (20%) in the form of a verbal presentation of the thesis and

overall exam before an internationaljury at the end of the year

The Degree of Master of Science in Tropical Animal Health is awarded to participantswho have successfully achieved each of the four elements. Participants who will fail

to do so will receive a Certificate of Attendance.

Duration of the courseThe MSTAH starts at the beginning of September 2Ot4 and finishes at the beginningof July 2OL5 (42 weeks/1O months). lt has a Student lnvestment Time (SlT) of 1.800hours, equivalent to 60 ECTS credits.

Admission requirementsThe MSTAH is a Master-after-Master Programme and the admission requirementsinclude:

. A primary university degree (min. 4 years) equivalent to 24O ECTS (in theEuropean Union called a Master degree).

o At least two years of professional experience relevant to the course. Basicknowledge of laboratory techniques and common statistical tests is anadvantage. Please note that internships and prior thesis work are notconsidered as professiona I experience.

. Proficiency in the course language.

. Computer literacy

A complete application form is to be sent to the course administrator before theapplication deadline of 1.5/01, of the preceding academic year. Electronic registrationthrough the ITM website is preferred. HoweveL on demand, the course secretariatcan e-mail an application form (Word-document).

Based on the application files, the candidates who comply with the admissionrequirements will be invited to provide:

. A signed hard-copy of the application form.

. A certified copy of the university diploma(s). Note that in case the applicationis successful (see below), forvisa purposes, legalisation of the diploma can berequested by the Belgian Embassy or Belgian diplomatic representation from/for your country. Be aware that this legalisation process should be started indue time. lf your diploma is not made up in Dutch, English, French or Spanish,a certified officialtranslation of the diploma is required!

o An authenticated transcript of records (university studies only) stating marksand grades.

. l- passport photograph.

. A copy of the passport.

. A statement on computer literacy (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

. For candidates from countries where the course language is different fromtheir mother tongue, an officially recognised proficiency language certificateis mandatory:TOEFL/IELTS/British Council. The minimum requirement is aTOEFL score 580 (paper based), 230 (computer based), or an IETLS of 6.5. orequivalent. Also all participants of French speaking countries need to providea certificate to prove their ability to read scientific English.

. A letter of consent from the employe; stating the agreement with theenrolment in the course.

. 3 letters of recommendation of persons who can evaluate the applicant'sacademic and/ or professional career.

. A list of publications (if available).

lf applicable:. Filled and signed DGD scholarship application form (see the requirements

concerning these scholarships).. An application for partial waiver of tuition fees by the lnstitute of Tropical

Medicine (only for EU applicants).

Selection of candidatesBy the end of February 20L4, shortlisted candidates will receive a certificate ofacademic selection and will be able to further compete for the 15 available DGD(Belgian Development Cooperation) scholarships. lf a candidate doesn't meet therequirements for a DGD scholarship, the course administrator can send a list of otherpossible sources of scholarships.The application form is the Academic Selection Committee's main tool for short-listing candidates. The comprehensiveness, quality and accuracy of its content aretherefore of utmost importance.The maximum number of students admitted to the course is 25 of whom no morethan 2 will be originating from industrialised countries.

Tuition fee and scholarshipsAll information relating to fees and scholarships is available on the website or by contacting the coursesecretary. As mentioned above, ITM may facilitate scholarships for participants from developingcountries or the European Union.The registration fee in fullshould be paid into the ITM's account nr. 220-053LILI-72 (Fortis, Warandeberg3, l-000 Brussel), Blc/SWIFT:GEBABEBB, IBAN BE 38 2200531.IL172, priortothe startof the academicyear. Bank charges are at the expense of the applicant.

Accred itationThe Master of Science in Tropical Animal Health is internationally accredited through the Dutch-FlemishAccreditation Organisation (NVAO). Credits are calculated according to the European Credit Transferand accumulation System (ECTS).

Alum n i n etworl( (Rl PROSAT)The alumni network stimulates contacts between former participants and also with teaching staff ofthe MSTAH. The lecturers of the ITM stay available for scientific advice. RIPROSAT also supports nationaland regional meetings of local alumni associations.

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lnstituut voor Tropische Gen eeskundelnstitut de M6decine Tropicalelnstitute of Tropical Medicine

Foundation of Public UtilityRPR 0410.057.701 | tBAN BE 38 2200 53tl t!72

Nationalestraat 155 | 2OOO Antwerp I BelgiumTel: +32 (O)3 247 66 66 I Fax: +32 (0)3 216 14 31 | E-mail: info@itg.be