Idrissa Beogo and Cheng-Yu Ho won the third prize of 2011 ICDF Student Paper Competition

Abstract

Idrissa Beogo from Burkina Faso (International Health Program) and Cheng-Yu Ho (Institute of Biomedical Engineering) mentored by Prof. Nicole Huang (Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration) were awarded the third prize at 2011 International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) Student Paper Competition. The 2011 paper-competition was the first of its kind organized by Taiwan-ICDF intending to: 1) promote the value of international cooperation and foster the quality and quantity of research, 2) enhance Taiwanese and foreign students interaction, and 3) encourage Taiwan-ICDF scholarship students to evaluate the development of their home countries and the validity of Taiwan-ICDF’s assistance projects, as well as to discover potential projects.

The paper competition was open to teams composed of one foreign student (ICDF scholarship recipients) and one domestic student, mentored by one faculty. The competitors first submitted a research proposal, then, if selected, went on fieldwork for data gathering to issue an article. Finally, retained papers’ authors joined the last stage of the contest. Following the presentations round given at Ming Chuan University on November 30, 2011 at a jury meeting, their article entitles “For-profit healthcare provider seekers: characteristics and choices patterns in urban Burkina Faso” won the third-place prize composed of a certificate of merit and NT$15,000 check.

Mr. Beogo and Ho said that the paper competition was a wonderful opportunity for them to share experience of their study topic, their culture and the health system of their country. They are proud of this award which they hope can further raise the image of Yang Ming University, particularly among international students. They are grateful to the mentor Dr. Huang, to Dr. Chieh-Yu Liu (National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences) and to Dr. Maxime Drabo (from Burkina Faso Institute of Research in Health Sciences) and all the anonymous persons who helped them along the way.