Computer communication for international collaboration in education in public health. The TEMPUS Consortium for a New Public Health in Hungary

Abstract

Computer conferencing using the Canadian system CoSy is presented, and three related projects are discussed. 1. An extramural university course in epidemiology and medical statistics was taught using CoSy. Computer conferencing can be a useful vehicle for distance education, enabling health professionals to attend "classes" independent of geographical and time constraints. The subjects taught are well suited to this medium. 2. Internet was used to establish a small network of public health researchers and teachers. Participants are from Canada, Hungary, Israel, Norway, and Australia. Networks of this type not only facilitate international collaboration within public health, they also enable international collaborative research and teaching projects that would have been too cumbersome and time consuming to initiate and conduct without this communication facility. 3. "Development of Medical Education for a New Public Health in Hungary," a project funded by the European Community's TEMPUS program, is established with a view to developing the undergraduate and graduate education of public health professionals. It is a joint program between the five Hungarian medical schools and ten universities in the G24 countries. The TEMPUS listserver functions as an important vehicle for communication within this project.