Strengthening expertise and bioinformatics to control antimicrobial resistance in West Africa Erasmus Project

Project Title

Strengthening expertise and bioinformatics to control antimicrobial resistance in West Africa

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Capacity Building in higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics:

Project Summary

The project “Strengthening expertise and bioinformatics to control antimicrobial resistance in West Africa” (SEBA) will improve the quality of higher education in Benin and Burkina Faso, enabling them tackle the challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR genes allow bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics used to treat human and animal infections. In West Africa, as in other resource-poor settings, control of the occurrence and transmission of AMR is challenging due socioeconomic constraints, lack of expertise, and inadequate facilities to educate the experts. Through SEBA, we will strengthen the human and technical capacities of partner universities, enabling them to provide high-quality education and to train future experts in AMR management. We will design and implement a new Advanced Training Programme in AMR, providing 18 months’ training at MSc level. The training will include e-learning, partner country contact teaching, independent learning, and placement in a stakeholder institution. The crosscutting principles for the programme are: application of active learning techniques based on the modern learning theories; and application of the One Health approach, whereby human, animal and environmental health are treated as one entity, influenced by socioeconomic structures. Training in molecular biology techniques and bioinformatics will equip graduates with the skills to contribute fully in global AMR activities. Furthermore, they will develop their ability to interact with communities and stakeholders, including potential employers. The broad and deep hands-on training SEBA provides will enable students to become world-class experts in AMR management and control, able to positively impact West-Africa and globally. The universities will improve their competence in developing educational programmes, and will increase societal impact. Training will be subject to quality control and accreditation procedures to meet European higher education standards.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 999998 Eur

Project Coordinator

HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO & Country: FI

Project Partners

• UNIVERSITE DE PARAKOU
• UNIVERSITE OUAGA I PROFESSEUR JOSEPH KI-ZERBO
• UNIVERSITE POLYTECHNIQUE DE BOBO-DIOULASSO
• UNIVERSITE DE MONTPELLIER
• UNIVERSITE D’ABOMEY-CALAVI
• UNIVERSITE NATIONALE D’AGRICULTURE