Research plan for intercultural health promotion education project

Abstract

The changing world of higher education is characterized by the increasing intercultural nature of academic work. The intercultural aspect of higher education has been bought about by the expanding scope of educational markets into global commerce. Although Anglo-American-Australian educational products were essentially monocultural in the early nineties, there is a growing interest in cultural bridges and links with international students' home countries. Low and Middle Income Countries, through various means, sponsor some health professionals to Western universities to increase their knowledge to reduce health inequalities that exist between developed and developing countries. Consequently, academics are faced with the problem of teaching health promotion which is sensitive to context and culture. Preparing post graduate students to live in and engage effectively with their country's health challenges is a serious ethical responsibility because of far reaching effects on their country's people and economy. The aim of this participatory research is to improve health promotion education for post graduate health professionals who work with marginalized individuals, communities and populations. The paper presents the justification for this research, analysis of the relevant literature, methods used to explore this problem, and some preliminary comments on the research process.