It is hosted by the department of Maternal Newborn and Child Health through Healthy Child Uganda (HCU) at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), the Global Health Community Engagement Field School is a Ugandan-Canadian Partnership Initiative that has brought together undergraduate students from MUST and the University of Calgary (UC) for a four-week global learning program centered on community engagement and health promotion. At base, the Field School is grounded in principles of equitable and reciprocal partnerships in global health, recognition of community members as active and insightful agents in change for health, and bi-directional learning – both between Canadian and Ugandan students, and between students and communities.

The Field School program offers Canadian and Ugandan students a unique hands-on experience through which they can learn about reciprocal community engagement, facilitate constructive reflection with community members about pressing health issues, and collaborate amongst themselves and with communities to implement strengths-based health promotion initiatives. Further, the field school offers students an opportunity to gain valuable interpersonal skills by learning and working together in cross-cultural, interdisciplinary teams. To ensure alignment with policy, the program is guided by Ministries of Health and education both at district and national levels.