Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:
The Doctor of Philosophy Program in Epidemiology and Biostatistics is at the heart of global health surveillance and evidence-based medicine, making it a critical contributor to the Sustainable Development Goals. The program's core and overwhelming focus is on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), as it trains elite researchers to investigate disease patterns, identify risk factors, and evaluate health interventions. By producing experts in advanced statistical modeling and research design, the curriculum directly supports the creation of innovations for health and strengthens the scientific infrastructure, aligning with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). As a premier doctoral program, it is a clear example of SDG 4 (Quality Education), developing the high-level skills necessary for a knowledge-based society. The international scope of the curriculum and its emphasis on globally relevant research and publication foster the cross-border collaborations essential for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), and its specialized course on multilevel analysis provides tools to address SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) in health.
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-beingAlignment Summary: This program is fundamentally dedicated to improving global health. The curriculum provides an in-depth, research-intensive education on the methodologies for studying and controlling both infectious and non-communicable diseases. It directly contributes to combating epidemics, strengthening health systems, and promoting well-being through rigorous, evidence-based research and practice.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| EB 531 702 | Advanced Epidemiology | This is the core discipline for understanding and controlling diseases. It directly supports efforts to end epidemics and strengthen the capacity for managing global health risks (Target 3.3, 3.D). |
| EB 532 712 | Epidemiological Surveillance and Investigation | Directly aligns with strengthening national and global capacity for early warning and management of health risks (Target 3.D) by teaching methods for monitoring and responding to disease outbreaks. |
| EB 532 721 | Infectious Disease Epidemiology | Directly addresses Target 3.3 by focusing on the methods to study and control the spread of communicable diseases, which is vital for ending epidemics. |
| EB 532 722 | Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology | Directly supports Target 3.4 by training experts to research the causes and prevention of major non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. |
| EB 532 723 | Clinical Epidemiology | Applies epidemiological principles to clinical practice, improving the evidence base for diagnosis and treatment, thus contributing to more effective healthcare and universal health coverage (Target 3.8). |
| EB 531 998 / 999 | Dissertation | Generates new knowledge for solving public health challenges, directly contributing to research and development for health and well-being (Target 3.B). |
SDG 4: Quality EducationAlignment Summary: As a doctoral program, this curriculum represents the highest level of quality education, designed to cultivate expert researchers and academics. It provides an inclusive and equitable advanced learning environment that equips graduates with specialized scientific skills and fosters the lifelong learning necessary to generate new knowledge for sustainable development.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| EB 531 701 | Advanced Research Methodology and Biostatistics | Provides foundational doctoral-level skills in research design and data analysis, which is a cornerstone of quality tertiary education and prepares graduates for high-level careers in research (Target 4.3 and 4.4). |
| EB 531 998 / 999 | Dissertation | Represents a capstone lifelong learning opportunity (Target 4.3), where students conduct original research, thereby acquiring superior technical and professional skills for employment and innovation. |
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureAlignment Summary: The program drives innovation in the health, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology sectors. By training experts in advanced biostatistics and data analysis, it enhances scientific research and upgrades the technological capabilities required for clinical trials, drug development, and health information systems.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| EB 532 711 | Health Data Analysis using Statistical Packages | Supports innovation by building practical skills in using modern software for health data analysis, which enhances research capacity and the technological infrastructure of the health industry (Target 9.5). |
| EB 531 998 / 999 | Dissertation | Fosters innovation by generating new knowledge and analytical methods that can be applied to health and pharmaceutical industries, thereby enhancing scientific research (Target 9.5). |
SDG 10: Reduced InequalitiesAlignment Summary: The program addresses health inequalities by equipping researchers with sophisticated analytical tools to understand their root causes. The course on multilevel analysis provides specific methods to investigate how social, economic, and environmental contexts contribute to disparities in health outcomes, enabling the development of targeted, equitable policies.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| EB 532 713 | Multilevel Analysis | Directly aligns with Target 10.4 by providing advanced statistical techniques to analyze how individual and community-level factors influence health, enabling research that addresses health inequalities and their social determinants. |
SDG 17: Partnerships for the GoalsAlignment Summary: This international program inherently builds partnerships for sustainable development. Its focus on globally relevant health challenges and the requirement for research dissemination in international forums promote the knowledge-sharing and multi-stakeholder collaborations necessary to achieve global health goals.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| EB 531 703 | Seminar in Epidemiology and Biostatistics 1 | Promotes the global partnership for sustainable development (Target 17.6) by requiring students to engage with, critique, and present on the latest international research, fostering a culture of global knowledge-sharing. |
| EB 531 998 / 999 | Dissertation | Represents a significant contribution to global partnerships (Target 17.16) by creating new, publishable knowledge that is shared internationally to help solve critical public health challenges. |