Malawi visit Nov 2011 Ralf Weigel Dan Robinson

Purpose of trip To explore possible educational links with the LightHouse trust and other institutions/organisations in Malawi. To present to key organisations/institutions purpose of our visit To identify training/educational needs To identify target market of prospective students To discuss what LSTM can offer To explore the IT infrastructure and possible delivery of e-learning opportunities

Project team Lighthouse Sam Phiri – Director Sam Zimba – Training Manager Sauros - Business Manager Kelvin – IT Manager LSTM Ralf Weigel Dan Robinson

LSTM presentation to partners LSTM background Purpose of visit Types of courses we offer Course approval processes T&L aspects – Approaches – Hosting & delivery – Student access Discussion to gather thoughts

Meetings with potential partners Department of HIV & AIDS – Frank Chibwandira National TB Control Programme – Andrew Dimba, WHO TB-HIV rep et NTP programme managers (met James Mphango, head, and Rhoda Banda, deputy head and training manager briefed, but not present at meeting) Ministry of Health – Reproductive Health Unit – Director Fanny Kachale Nursing and midwifes council – Martha Mondiwa (Registrar) Medical Council – Kondwani Mkandawire (Assistant Registrar)

General Feedback from meetings All meetings had positive feedback Clear T&L need – Identified areas of interest HIV/TB training Monitoring & Evaluation Research skills Target audience – Nurses – Clinical Officers – MDs Great interest in e-learning A need for high quality Continual Professional Development provision – Courses have to “fit” with CPD syllabus – LSTM can be accredited as CPD provider Concerns over sustainability Fees to be “affordable and appropriate“, understand need for fee to cover basic costs (honorarium, costs for admin, production of materials, registration etc.) Short term to deliver LSTM certified courses

IT and E-learning considerations limited Connectivity – Bandwidth ranged from 128kbps to 1mbps (shared between up to 80 computers, unable to test real world bandwidth due to instability) LSTM currently has a real world bandwidth of 84mbps Reliability – Internet connection – Power supply Costs – Internet ($1500 US per month for 1mbps line) – Hardware Computing facilities – Limited resources Only identified two computing facilities KCN (80 networked PCs with internet access)+ KCH Surgical library (15 networked PCS with internet access) Also Pan African Tele Medicine centre providing video conferencing between India and Africa – Quality of computing facilities PCs reasonable specification estimated at around 5 years old IT skills of participants – This issue was raised at the Nurses Council as not all are computer literate

Potential pilot model Deliver short e-learning course (1/2 - 2 days) Delivery if funding can be found for PCs or partner‘s facilites KCN lab, Nursing Council or LH – E-learning via CD-ROM Students registered at Lighthouse with ID check Fee free pilot Evaluation (FDGs, ICN, observation) through MSc student Possible programme – TB/HIV – Research skills – M&E Target audience – Nurses – Clinical officers – Programme managers – MDs Evaluation (FDGs, ICN, observation) through MSc student Assessment options to be carefully considered

Assessment considerations Test knowledge Easy, simple, reproducable MCQs: CD ROM, Flash, pre and post? Result transfer? Alternative assessments?

Moving forward Write report to be circulated to LH and other partners with. Make recommendations for pilot Decide on communication structure with LH and partners Agree next steps Identify possible funding and develop bids