Scope of the Offer:
GIBACHT is an educational programme established and supported by the German Federal Foreign Office. The training programme focuses on threats and risks conferred by biological agents and bioweapons and their successful prevention and control. The programme is coordinated by the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) and conducted in partnership with the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Berlin, the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) in Allschwil/Switzerland, and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) in Kampala/Uganda.
- The course is only intended for applicants from Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe.
- Women are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Deadline for applications is 15th February 2024, midnight CET.
Objectives to be completed:
The objectives of the programme are:
- To provide basic understanding and training in control of infectious diseases and the management of biohazards
- To intensify and sustain international co-operation in the fields of biosafety, biosecurity and the prevention and management of epidemics
- To strengthen national and local centres for infectious disease epidemiology and management, biosafety and biosecurity
In addition, expected proficiency acquired through completion of the programme includes:
- Comprehensive knowledge of selected infectious agents and transmission, including treatment and prevention
- Sampling and safe handling of biological specimens and potentially hazardous materials
- Utilisation of adequate epidemiological tools
- Managing infectious disease outbreak scenarios
- Surveillance and contact tracing
- Containment measures, including personal security and community protection
- Knowledge of international health regulations
- Communication management under disaster or extreme conditions
- Development and implementation of a case study on biosafety/biosecurity as a training tool
Programme structure:
Two 1.5-week workshops will be held in Berlin (Germany) and Kampala (Uganda). The courses will be complemented by structured eLearning modules covering relevant topics. For a successful completion of the course, the participants are required to:
- 19th March – 14th April May 2024 (8h SIT): Complete 7 eLearning modules - these will be graded, see selection procedure below
- 14th May – 05th July 2024 (15h SIT): Complete 11 additional eLearning modules
- 08th – 17th July 2024 (60h SIT): Participate in the first workshop on the topic of Introduction to biosafety and biosecurity & real-time simulation of biological incidents at Robert Koch Institute in Berlin/Germany
- Between the workshops:
- Conduct a biosafety/biosecurity training in your home institutions (10h SIT) o Plan and conduct a pilot testing of your developed case study at your home institutions (10h SIT)
- Complete additional distance-based group work concerning the development of case studies (100h SIT)
- 17th -21st February 2025 (40h SIT): Participate in the second workshop with field testing of developed case studies at AFENET in Kampala/Uganda
- Submission of a case study implementation report of developed project 6 months after the second workshop
After successful completion of the programme, the fellows will be awarded a certificate and granted ten European credit transfer (ECTS) points from the University of Basel.
The programme budget covers economy-class flights, visa fees and accommodation. Daily meals are provided; No Daily Subsistence Allowances (per diems) will be paid. There are no tuition fees.
Requirements:
- The task of the German Biosecurity programme is to strengthen biosafety and biosecurity services of partner countries in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe. We are therefore looking for applicants with an origin in these regions.
- Professional experience of at least two years in either the public health or medical sector, preferably with engagement in the management, prevention and control of infectious diseases
- A degree or proficiency in at least one of the following fields:
- Public Health,
- Medicine,
- Epidemiology,
- Microbiology,
- Biology,
- Equivalent life science disciplines.
- An endorsement document of the current employer confirming a minimum of a one year contract duration following completion of the programme is required. This endorsement should include an assurance that the GIBACHT fellow will be released from work for the two workshops.
- Advanced proficiency in English is essential for course participation and learning success. Accepted proofs of language proficiency are: TOEFL Paper 550, TOEFL Computer 213, TOEFL Internet 79–80, IELTS 6.0, native speaker, or completed higher education in English (with written proof). We reserve the right to conduct telephone interviews.
- Elements of the programme will take place virtually, therefore the availability of a computer with a stable internet connection (at least 10 Mbit/s download; 3Mbit/s upload) and functioning audio and microphone is required. Participation from a mobile phone or tablet is not permitted. If necessary, we expect participants to invest in purchasing additional air time to participate in the virtual activities.
Selection procedure:
As spaces are limited, a two-stage selection procedure will be applied:
- The steering board of the programme will select the applicants to be admitted to the first seven eLearning modules
- After the completion of these seven modules, the best performing fellows will be selected and admitted to the full programme.
Application:
In order to apply for participation in the programme, please submit a completed application form along with the required documents in the online portal at
www.bnitm.de/ausbildung/uebersicht/kurse/internationale-kurse/gibacht
Only electronic online applications will be accepted.
Please do not send hardcopy applications by mail. Incomplete applications will NOT be considered.
