Available courses

APRU Mini Certificate - Health Research Ethics - Fall 2026

OVERVIEW

The APRU Global Health Mini Certificate Program in Health Research Ethics aims to provide an interactive, interdisciplinary virtual health research ethics training for students at APRU member institutions to build capacity for ethical research. We also want to strengthen infrastructure to support graduate-level ethics training in medical and public health research and to foster and grow the network of the APRU Working Group on Bioethics. Students from many different economies and disciplines will come together in an interactive virtual environment. They will listen to guest speakers and review case studies in small groups, with discussions facilitated by experts.

The series is offered by the APRU Global Health Working Group on Bioethics. It is free to students (undergraduate and graduate) from any APRU member university. The training will be conducted in English via Zoom in three parts of 2 hours, 15 minutes each. Students will also complete some online self-paced exercises of about 3-4 hours via the course Canvas website during the weeks in between the sessions.  Those who successfully complete all 3 live session hours plus the required “homework” will receive a certificate of participation.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

  • Outline the main principles that guide the ethical conduct of research with human subjects.
  • Describe some of the historical cases of unethical research with human subjects which have led to the need for more human subject protection.
  • Explain the importance of community participation in health research.
  • Analyze real-world cases of ethical challenges in health research.
  • Describe best practices in ethical health research and practice to protect human subjects.
  • Identify major documents, protocols and systems in place to ensure adherence to ethical principles in health research.
  • Discuss the function of IRB/RECs.

20253:41154 PM 506 - Overcoming Real World Challenges in Global Health

Course Overview

This graduate-level seminar explores leadership in global health through critical engagement with contemporary challenges, historical legacies, and real-world practices. Drawing on insights from experienced global health professionals, students will examine the structural, political, and ethical complexities of implementing health interventions, shaping policy, and engaging with diverse stakeholders and organizations. Through interactive guest lectures delivered via Zoom, students will engage with leading practitioners from across the globe to analyze case studies, assess the role of institutions like the World Health Organization, and evaluate efforts to promote equity, inclusion, and decolonization in global health.

The course emphasizes collaborative, cross-cultural learning, providing students with opportunities to work in diverse, interdisciplinary teams across institutions and regions. In recognition that global health practice is inherently collaborative and cross-cultural, this course also offers students the opportunity to work in diverse, interdisciplinary teams across institutions and regions. These peer collaborations foster essential skills in cultural humility, critical analysis, and leadership in resource-constrained and inequitable settings. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to critically analyze global health systems and leadership strategies, and to contribute meaningfully to equitable and effective global health action.


PM568 - APRU Global Health Ethics - Fall 2026

This online graduate-level seminar examines some of the most pressing ethical controversies facing public health practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and communities around the world. Public health decisions often involve difficult trade-offs between individual rights and collective well-being, competing social priorities, limited resources, scientific uncertainty, and diverse cultural values. Through the lens of real-world controversies and case studies, students will explore how ethical principles shape public health policy, research, and practice, and how ethical conflicts can produce far-reaching consequences for individuals, populations, and societies.

The course investigates a wide range of contemporary ethical challenges, including the infectious disease control, health inequities, global health governance, emerging technologies, human genome editing, transgender athletes, and more. Using multiple learning formats, including case studies, class discussions, debates, role-playing exercises, and interactions with leading international scholars and practitioners, students will critically analyze ethical conflicts arising in both public health practice and research. Particular attention will be given to how ethical frameworks are interpreted across different cultural, political, religious, and socioeconomic contexts, and how these differences influence public health decision-making.

Throughout the course, students will develop an understanding of major ethical theories and principles relevant to public health, explore the systems and oversight mechanisms designed to protect individuals and communities, and evaluate the intended and unintended consequences of public health actions. By applying ethical reasoning to complex real-world situations, students will strengthen their ability to identify, analyze, and navigate ethical challenges in diverse public health settings.

 Students will learn from and interact with leaders and peers from multiple countries through a live seminar held once per week for 11 weeks via Zoom. Because public health challenges increasingly require collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and cultures, the course provides opportunities for students to engage with peers from diverse backgrounds while developing skills in ethical analysis, cross-cultural communication, and collaborative problem-solving. Together, these activities will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the ethical controversies, conflicts, and consequences that shape public health practice and research in an interconnected world.