Exciting Week Ahead at the IS4NCDs Regional Consortium Meeting

The IS4NCDs Regional Consortium Meeting is taking place from 4 to 8 May 2026 at the esteemed University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.

This crucial five-day event will gather consortium members and dedicated educators from across the region to collaborate on advancing the vital field of implementation science for non-communicable diseases. The meeting serves as a cornerstone for strengthening regional capacities, fostering innovative approaches, and collectively addressing the growing global burden of NCDs.

Key Objectives and Agenda Highlights

The meeting's overarching objectives include enhancing educational frameworks by familiarizing new teachers with cutting-edge course content and Challenge Based Learning (CBL) methodologies; strategic implementation planning through reflecting on and refining the implementation roadmap for core, intermediate, and advanced modules; piloting future initiatives by concluding the preparation phase for various modules and reaching consensus on the piloting of short courses planned for 2026 and 2027; knowledge exchange by sharing initial experiences and best practices from the preparation phase among all participants; and ensuring sustainability by initiating critical discussions on the long-term sustainability of project outcomes and their broader impact.

Participants will engage in a dynamic program designed to foster collaboration and strategic planning. Key agenda highlights include:

• Monday, 4 May: The meeting will commence with participant arrivals, a project re-introduction, and a dedicated workshop on competency frameworks and didactical elements.
• Tuesday, 5 May: Discussions will focus on the core, intermediate, and advanced modules, aiming to refine educational approaches.
• Wednesday, 6 May: The agenda features executive course discussions, eHub updates, further alignment of didactical elements, and intensive breakout sessions for module development.
• Thursday, 7 May: Key activities will involve project management, planning, and the crucial development of piloting agendas for all modules, alongside evaluation framework discussions.
• Friday, 8 May: The final day will be dedicated to summarizing conclusions, clarifying outstanding points, and outlining the critical next steps for the consortium's collective efforts.

This meeting is a testament to IS4NCDs' commitment to driving impactful research and educational initiatives that translate scientific discoveries into tangible health improvements. The outcomes of this gathering are expected to significantly contribute to the development of effective strategies for NCD prevention and management in the region.

We look forward to a productive week of collaboration and innovation that will shape the future of implementation science for non-communicable diseases.