Technology Development

The SPH possesses a student computer lab of 30 workstations on which run various statistical software packages for teaching and research, including EpiInfo 3.3.2. ATLAS.ti 5.2, and SPSS. A full network of computers is installed in all staff and faculty offices. The SPH is connected to the Internet via the Ethernet and wireless connections and will soon be connected to a fiber optic cable to increase connectivity.

In addition to access to the SPH computer lab, students enrolled in the various programs offered by the SPH receive their own laptops for use in their studies and professional activities.

The SPH has invested considerable resources in the development of online educational programs. The school's formal online courses can be accessed online through the SPH’s online course management system, which hosts the core curricula for both the MPH and Master’s in Epidemiology programs, as well as various certificate and specialty courses.  Registered students and health professionals can access these courses from any internet connection. Students at the SPH use the school’s course management system to access online resources, receive and submit assignments, view their grades, and communicate and collaborate with each other.  The SPH has also developed a hardware package that allows the school’s international network of academic partners to offer real-time courses over the internet.

To provide access to documents, research, and information on public health topics relevant to Rwanda and East Africa, the SPH has developed its online Knowledge Center for international collaboration. Through the Knowledge Center Library, students can access the vast amount of research information currently offered by the school as well as share their research and expertise to fill gaps in the current knowledge base.  Students can also use the Knowledge Center as they perform research and as a tool to collaborate with work group.  New information can be archived and shared automatically with future Knowledge Center users.   Online collaborative tools are currently being used to facilitate research projects being carried out jointly by faculty members at the SPH and their colleges at Tulane University in the United States.

The SPH is currently developing capacities to use Geographic Information System (GIS) tools for processing, analyzing and visualizing spatial data in all fields of public health. The SPH has created a workstation dedicated to GIS applications which runs ESRI’s ArcView 8.1 software and acquired handheld Geographic Positioning System (GPS) hardware units. Current SPH research projects include the use of GIS capacities to map the spatial distribution of orphans and vulnerable children to detect spatial patterns and other factors that affect their access to health services.