A structured approach to effective mentoring of women health researchers in Africa

Objectives: To formatively evaluate the HIGHER Women consortium's Mentor Protégée Program (MPP) and derive lessons for successful African women scientist mentorship. Design: Desk review of program documents and cross-sectional surveys of mentors and protégées. Setting: All 10 regions of Cameroon Participants: Women working in health research participating in the MPP. Interventions: Building health research skills and providing support for women to cope within the African psychosocial environment using a holistic approach. Main outcome measures: Formed mentor-protégés duos applying the MPP with measurable accomplishments. Results: The consortium counted 121 members with 103 protégées and 18 mentors. Of 103 protégées, 35 responded to the 2018 survey, while 77 responded to the 2022 survey. Mentioned benefits of the program included an increase in scientific peer-reviewed journal publications and presentations at national and international conferences. In the 2022 survey, a Pearson correlation showed an r of 0.41, which, although not statistically significant (p = .592), suggests a positive correlation between the increased number of peer-reviewed articles and increased number of years as HIGHER Women protégées. Conclusions: Mentorship programs can help over time to bridge the gender gaps within Africa as well as the gaps between African-led research and the rest of the world while making a meaningful contribution to enhancing the quality, diversity, and productivity of researchers. A mentoring program such as the HIGHER Women MPP can be improved by leveraging local and international partners to foster the mentoring program's sustainability, scalability, and expanded reach.

Traditional medicine and genomics.

'Omics' developments in the form of genomics, proteomics and metabolomics have increased the impetus of traditional medicine research. Studies exploring the genomic, proteomic and metabolomic basis of human constitutional types based on Ayurveda and other systems of oriental medicine are becoming popular. Such studies remain important to developing better understanding of human variations and individual differences. Countries like India, Korea, China and Japan are investing in research on evidence-based traditional medicines and scientific validation of fundamental principles. This review provides an account of studies addressing relationships between traditional medicine and genomics.

Holistic or sequential approach to curriculum: what works best for young children? / Enfoque holístico o secuencial curricular: ¿cuál es más efectivo con los niños? / As aproximações holística ou seqüencial para o curriculum: qual é a melhor para as crianças?

In this article two approaches to constructing a curriculum for young children are considered: the Holistic approach and the Sequential approach. In both constructs all developmental areas are included in a longitudinal line of development for children aged three to six. In the Holistic approach all of the developmental areas are integrated around a unifying theme to which all of the activities are connected. It is a horizontal approach with no hierarchy in difficulty or complexity. In the Sequential approach each developmental area is considered separately with no relationship to the other areas. It is a vertical approach with a distinct order of difficulty and complexity. Which approach is most effective for the optimal development of young children? Which approach is structured in a way that is most natural for children and provides for both the development of children’s self regulation and optimal stimulation of learning by the teacher? It is concluded that the holistic approach works best with a sequential framework as structuring principle. Both holistic approach and sequential framework are applied in the Pyramid Method (Van Kuyk, 2003, 2009). Research makes clear that this approach works in practice.

En este artículo se consideran dos enfoques respecto a la construcción de un curriculum para los niños: el Enfoque Holístico y el Enfoque Secuencial. En ambos constructos, se incluyen todas las áreas del desarrollo mediante una proyección longitudinal del desarrollo de los niños con edades entre los tres y los seis años. En el Enfoque Holístico se integran todas las áreas del desarrollo en torno a un tema unificador al cual se hallan conectadas todas las actividades. Este enfoque constituye una aproximación horizontal no jerárquica en lo concerniente a complejidad o dificultad. En el Enfoque Secuencial, se considera cada área del desarrollo de manera separada y sin ninguna referencia respecto a las otras áreas. Es una aproximación vertical con un orden diferente de dificultad y de complejidad. Cuál enfoque es el más efectivo para el desarrollo óptimo de los niños? Qué enfoque se halla estructurado de tal manera que sea el más natural para los niños y contribuya tanto al desarrollo de la auto-regulación de los niños como de la estimulación óptima del aprendizaje por parte del profesor? Se concluye que el Enfoque Holístico funciona mejor con un marco secuencial como su principio estructurador. Tanto el Enfoque Holístico como el Enfoque Secuencial se aplican en el Método Piramidal (Van Kuyk, 2003, 2009). La investigación explica que este enfoque funciona en la práctica.

Duas aproximações respeito à construção do curriculum para as crianças são consideradas neste artigo: as Aproximações tanto Holística como Seqüencial. Todas as áreas do desenvolvimento são incluídas numa linha longitudinal de desenvolvimento para crianças com idades entre três e seis anos em ambos construtos. Na Aproximação Holística, todas as áreas do desenvolvimento são integradas em redor de um tema unificador ao qual estão conectadas todas as atividades pertinentes. É uma aproximação horizontal sem nenhuma hierarquia de dificuldade ou complexidade. Na Aproximação Seqüencial, cada área de desenvolvimento é considerada separadamente e sem nenhuma relação com as outras áreas. É uma aproximação vertical com uma ordem diferente de dificuldade e complexidade. Qual aproximação é a mais efetiva para o melhor desenvolvimento das crianças? Qual aproximação está estruturada de modo que seja muito natural para as crianças e forneça uma estimulação ótima da aprendizagem pela parte do professor para o desenvolvimento de auto-regulaçao das crianças. Se conclui que a Aproximação Holística é mais efetiva com um quadro seqüencial como o seu principio estruturador. Tanto o quadro holístico como o seqüencial são aplicados no Método da Pirâmide (Van Kuyk, 2003, 2009). A pesquisa clarifica que esta aproximação funciona na pratica.