RIT Croatia leads the way in digital health education transformation through DigHealth Project

On December 1, 2024, the groundbreaking Micro-credentials in Digital Health for Ethiopia and Somalia (DigHealth) project officially launched its three-year journey to revolutionize healthcare education in Ethiopia and Somalia. Co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme (Action: Capacity Building in Higher Education), the project will run until November 30, 2027.

Transformative Impact on Healthcare and Education

The DigHealth project is set to create long-lasting improvements in healthcare and education by:

• Empowering educators in Ethiopian and Somali universities to deliver state-of-the-art digital health programs.
• Addressing the urgent need for skilled professionals in telemedicine and e-health, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
• Enhancing employment opportunities and fostering sustainable healthcare systems, driving socio-economic development.

Through its innovative approach, DigHealth aligns education with European quality standards while addressing local needs, making significant strides in modernizing healthcare education systems in Ethiopia and Somalia.

RIT Croatia Leads a Consortium of 10 Global Partners

RIT Croatia proudly serves as the lead organization in this innovative project, which unites a consortium of 10 partner institutions across five countries:

• P1 RIT Croatia, Croatia (HR)
• P2 University of Piraeus, Greece (EL)
• P3 Catholic University of Croatia, Croatia (HR)
• P4 IHF asbl, Belgium (BE)
• P5 Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia (ET)
• P6 Bule Hora University, Ethiopia (ET)
• P7 Jigjiga University, Ethiopia (ET)
• P8 University of Hargeisa, Somalia (SO)
• P9 Horseed International University, Somalia (SO)
• P10 Somali Education and Youth Development Action, Somalia (SO)

Our team of experts leading this initiative includes Dr. Martin Žagar, Dr. Ana Havelka Meštrović, and Dr. Alan Mutka, whose combined expertise in digital health, curriculum development, and international collaboration ensures the project’s success.

Collaborative Beginnings and Future Steps

The project officially commenced with a virtual kick-off meeting on December 12, 2024, where representatives from all partner institutions discussed goals, responsibilities, and immediate next steps. A clear roadmap for the next phases of the project was established. Looking ahead, the in-person Kick-off Meeting and Training Event, hosted by the University of Piraeus, Greece, will take place on January 20–22, 2025, and January 24, 2025. This event, titled “Best Practices in Developing Digital Health Education”, will include workshops and training to build the capacity of Ethiopian and Somali educators and set the stage for creating the region’s first comprehensive digital health curricula.

Dr. Žagar: Strengthening RIT Croatia’s Leadership in Global Solutions

Dr. Martin Žagar, RIT Croatia’s lead on the DigHealth project, emphasized the significance of this initiative:

"At RIT Croatia, we are honored to lead the DigHealth project and collaborate with esteemed partners from around the globe. This initiative is an extraordinary opportunity to leverage our academic and research capabilities to address critical healthcare challenges in Ethiopia and Somalia. By modernizing education and aligning it with European quality standards, we are contributing to the development of sustainable healthcare systems and strengthening RIT Croatia’s role as a leader in delivering impactful, globally relevant solutions."