The Medical Education Centre for Research, Innovation and Training (MECRIT) has successfully completed three mop-up batches of the Health Research Methodology Training for faculty and/or staff of the Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB) and the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH).
Held from 15 September to 04 October 2025 at Tsherim Resort, Shomo, Paro, the six-day intensive programs aimed to enhance participants’ skills in research methodology, data management, and statistical analysis. The training formed part of Bhutan’s Structured and Mentoring Approach to Research Training (BSMART) – a locally adapted model inspired by the global SORT-IT framework to build operational research capacity.
Through interactive lectures, group discussions, and hands-on sessions using EpiData, STATA, and Zotero, among others – participants learned to develop research protocols, manage and analyze data, and uphold ethical research standards. Pre- and post-training assessments showed marked improvement in participants’ understanding of research design and statistical reasoning.
With the completion of these mop-up sessions — along with four earlier batches conducted earlier in 2025, MECRIT has now trained a wide range of professionals, including faculty from Aurora Academy of Health Sciences and research staff from the National Council Secretariat.
Altogether, nearly 95% of KGUMSB faculty and JDWNRH staff have now been oriented in basic health research methods. This milestone underscores MECRIT’s ongoing commitment to strengthening research capacity, promoting evidence-based practice, and nurturing a vibrant research culture across Bhutan’s academic and health institutions.