June 2026 - Implementation Science for Non-Communicable Diseases

30 June 2026

Core training modules are set to be piloted from the first week of October 2026, to be taught simultaneously across four African partner universities through an innovative hybrid teaching model. The target, first set at an earlier meeting, was reaffirmed during the IS4NCDs virtual meeting on 29 June 2026.

During the meeting, partners also reported steady progress on accreditation and ethics approvals, and a working group with representation from all seven partner institutions has been established to guide development of the project’s regional learning eHub.

A Hybrid Classroom Across Four Countries

Piloting of the three core modules will run between October and November 2026 at Copperbelt University, the University of Zambia, Stellenbosch University, and the University of the Witwatersrand. The delivery model was designed to make the most efficient use of teaching resources while still meeting the project’s requirement to pilot each core module at all four institutions. Rather than having lecturers travel to, or repeat, the same module at each site, one set of live lectures will be streamed simultaneously into all four classrooms, while participants attend in person and work through practical, challenge-based learning activities facilitated locally.

Accreditation and Ethics Approvals

Accreditation and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) approval processes are advancing across all partner institutions, with several already at an advanced stage ahead of the October pilots. Each institution is pursuing the recognition appropriate to its own academic processes, and partners are coordinating closely to streamline this work and avoid duplication of effort.

Ethics approval for the project’s evaluation protocol has already been secured through the Institute of Tropical Medicine, providing a charred foundation that partner institutions are now building on through their own local review processes.

Shaping the Project’s Digital Platform

A new working group has been formed to guide the development of the regional learning eHub, with a representative from every partner institution. Further review is planned once a trial version of the platform is ready.

2 June 2026

The IS4NCDs consortium convened its monthly virtual meeting via Zoom video call on 1 June 2026, bringing together representatives from partner institutions across Africa and Europe after the landmark in-person consortium meeting held in Johannesburg. The call served as an opportunity to reflect on that in-person meeting, share progress updates across work packages, and align on the path forward.

Reflecting on Johannesburg

Participants opened the call with warm reflections on the Johannesburg consortium meeting, describing it as a turning point for the project. Colleagues noted that the gathering provided much-needed clarity on priorities and next steps, and that the opportunity to connect in person — many for the first time after more than a year of online collaboration — was invaluable. The meeting was praised for its capacity-building activities and for enabling productive conversations between institutions that needed to strengthen their coordination.

Work Package Updates

Core Modules — Copperbelt University (CBU)

CBU reported progress on establishing the IS4NCDs project's visibility at the institutional level, with the project now featured on both the university's main website and its school-level web page. The team also provided an update on micro-credentials: while Zambia does not yet have a national framework for micro-credentials, CBU has engaged its internal senate committee — which oversees curriculum review and short courses — to obtain formal documentation acknowledging this context. Planning for the pilot of the Fundamentals of Implementation Science module is underway, with the team working to confirm internal timelines.

Intermediate Modules — Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University shared particularly encouraging news. Following the Johannesburg meeting, the team moved swiftly to prepare materials for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) point applications, submitting CVs, timetables, and assessments for all relevant teaching staff. All three intermediate modules have received content approval at NQF Level 9, with CPD points awarded for each. Building on this momentum, the team subsequently submitted applications for formal short course approval within the faculty — a process that is now underway and expected to yield an outcome sooner than originally anticipated. Piloting of the three modules remains planned for October, with one module rescheduled to November to accommodate a faculty member's sabbatical leave. The team is also working to update the university website to feature the IS4NCDs project and its programmes.

Advanced Modules — WITS University

WITS provided an update, confirming that the IS4NCDs project has been featured on the institute website for some time. The team is continuing to support the broader consortium's work on the advanced modules track.

Ethics Application

The consortium reviewed the status of its ethics application for research on education, which will cover activities including the piloting of short courses. Work is progressing on the research protocol, with the team coordinating to finalise the proposal and submit it in the near term. Discussion was held on the structure of the application, including the designation of principal and co-investigators across participating institutions, reflecting the multi-country, multi-institution nature of the consortium's work.

E-Learning Platform

An update was shared on the consortium's e-hub — its planned e-learning platform. A draft vision document is being prepared and will be shared on a collaborative platform for input from all consortium members. Institutions were encouraged to identify representatives to participate in the working group that will review and comment on this draft. The goal is to ensure every partner institution has a voice in shaping the platform before development proceeds.

Research and Manuscripts

The LMU Munich team reported that their competency study has reached a significant milestone, with all analytical steps now complete. The team is currently writing up the manuscript and will share an outline with the consortium steering board in the coming days, in line with the IS4NCDs authorship guidelines. A related ancillary study — conducted by a master's student who participated actively in the Johannesburg meeting — also benefited from a substantial increase in survey responses during and after that event. The student's thesis is due by the end of July, after which the broader team will collaborate on preparing a manuscript for publication. The consortium extended a standing invitation to the student to present her work to the group at a future call.

Executive Course Development

The University of Zambia shared that discussions are actively underway regarding the development of an executive course. Conversations with a partner institution have been described as productive and insightful, covering areas such as accreditation and business planning. Early-stage work on the research ethics protocol for the needs assessment phase of this course has begun, and the consortium will continue to track progress on this initiative in upcoming calls.

One Year of IS4NCDs Online

The call also marked a quiet but meaningful milestone: the one-year anniversary of the IS4NCDs website. The consortium acknowledged this moment as a small but tangible symbol of the project's growing public presence and its commitment to transparency and communication.

Monthly Archives: June 2026

October 2026 Target Confirmed for Core Modules Pilot