2015•01•23     Kuala Lumpur

Photo: Liza Haslan Tan, UNU-IIGH

From 8–11 December 2014 UNU-IIGH hosted a short course on Cultural Research Practices for Population Health. The course examined the impacts of cultural transitions and shared beliefs and values on human health with consideration for intervention strategies. Participants gained insights into key health issues that relate to cultural change and ‘traditional’ habits and values. Participants acquired a deeper appreciation of how future health will be impacted by cultural change as well as the potential benefits of health-related activities that are responsive to change.

The group was made up of five nationalities including Malaysian, Pakistani, Vietnamese, German and French and consisted of professionals in the areas of nutrition, public health, culinary science, economics, urban planning and human rights. Highlights of the course were the applied sessions where participants planned mock projects or worked on a real project presented by a group member.

Group discussions from different professional and national perspectives demonstrated the benefits of multidisciplinary and multinational learning and a number of relevant linkages and opportunities for collaboration were identified. After four days, participants left with a new network of colleagues and a deeper understanding of the importance of culture on implementation and outcome success, while presenters took away many new ideas for future courses.

Photo: Liza Haslan Tan, UNU-IIGH