The Peoples-uni is a 'social' model of Internet based Public Health capacity building for developing world health practitioners, using volunteer tutors and support staff. We have found this to be both feasible and in demand. In our third semester, with 12 course modules, 162 students from 28 countries and 60 tutors from 13 countries.

Overall objectives
1. Provide capacity building in Public Health through Internet based e-learning for those working in low- to middle-income countries who would otherwise not be able to access such education, using a 'social model' based on volunteers and open educational resources to keep costs low.
2. Offer education at the 'train the trainers' level, equivalent to that of a Masters level, for those with prior educational and occupational experience.
3. The education will meet identified competences which help with the practice of Public Health and be action oriented, reflecting a critical understanding of the evidence base, to assist in tackling major health problems facing the populations in which the students work.
4. Create an educational portfolio leading to a Certificate and Diploma in Public Health based on being shown to have met the competences identified in 4 or 8 of the course modules respectively (and later to a Masters).
5. Develop collaborative partnerships for this work with higher education institutions and other organisations globally.

The following modules are available: http://www.peoples-uni.org/book/courses-offered

• Biostatistics
• Communicable Disease
• Disaster Management and Emergency Planning
• Evidence Based Practice
• Health Economics
• HIV/AIDS
• Inequalities and the social determinants of health
• Introduction to Epidemiology
• Patient Safety
• Preventing Child Mortality
• Public Health Concepts for Policy Makers

Demonstration Module: Foundations of Public Health or Click here
Enroll in this course

There are two different ways of learning from People-uni, and we have identified two streams:
1. Academic Awards (Masters level)
You can enrol in the modules in April and September. These modules are 10 weeks long and have 5 topics. In these modules you will learn how to reflect critically on the course materials. This is assessed through discussion forums and essay writing. There will be a compulsory discussion forum for each topic and you can talk to other students about the learning materials and how these apply to your own country. You will need to write an essay for the final assessment. If you pass the assignment and participated in the discussions, you will get an academic transcript at the end of the module. If you complete 4 modules you will receive a Certificate in Public Health, and if you complete 8 modules you will receive a Diploma in Public Health and may be eligible to upgrade to a Masters in Public Health.

2. Continuing professional development
You enrol in the modules April and September, but within the module, you do not need to stick to a strict timetable. You can download the course materials and work through these in your own time. You should take any of the quizzes that you find in the module so that you can show how you have improved your knowledge and skills. You will get a certificate of attendance at the end of the module from People-uni showing that you have completed an e-course. Please note this will not be a certificate for academic credit, and will depend on showing that you have looked at the resources and taken the quizzes.
Further information for people interested in enrollling for courses