The Institute for International Health and Development (formerly Centre for International Health Studies) was founded in 1993 as a multi-disciplinary centre for education, research and technical assistance supporting international health development in low and middle income countries. Staff of IIHD and associated faculty have experience of work in nations, spanning Eastern Europe, Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and South and East Asia.

The approach of IIHD is characterised by an emphasis on social and organisational development issues within the process of health systems reform and development. Working with a wide range of partner institutions and agencies - international and local - IIHD seeks to promote study of key issues impacting international health policy and practice. IIHD has particular strengths in the fields of healthcare human resource development, health economics and systems, reproductive health women's health, pscho-social interventions, emergency assistance and support to post-conflict societies.

Technical assistance and research work associated with the areas of expertise noted above is extensive, and reflects a strong international orientation. Recent work includes a WHO-commissioned study of methods of determining staff mix, costs and care outcomes in health organisations in differing countries; an assessment for UNICEF of nutrition education needs in North Korea; initiatives in foot-care for those suffering from leprosy in Nepal; and an EU-funded evaluation of the impact across Europe of personal computers as decision-making supports.

With a broad multi-cultural student enrolment, a growing postgraduate research school, excellent links within the Scottish Health Service and with projects and programmes for refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland, international linkage (through such organisations as TropEdEurop and the European Consortium for Primary Care) and close collaboration with a range of non-governmental agencies, IIHD provides a stimulating environment for an increasing number of international visitors and research collaboration.

Edinburgh, combining the attractions of an historic city of learning with those of a vibrant contemporary capital, is an appropriate context for IIHD to fulfill its role as the primary focus for work in the field of international health development in Scotland.

Queen Margaret University College and International Healthcare Development

The work of IIHD is supported by the context of QMUC as a major provider of healthcare training, professional development and research across its faculties of Health Science and Social Science & Healthcare.

At any one time there are approaching 2,000 students registered at QMUC on healthcare programmes at postgraduate and undergraduate level. Postgraduate provision includes multi-disciplinary programmes, such as the MSc Healthcare Management, MSc Primary Care, MSc Health Informatics and MSc Health Promotion, which are accessed by medical doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and a wide range of other workers to support career development and personal competence in specific areas of work.

More specialist provision includes postgraduate programmes in physiotherapy, nursing, occupational therapy and mammography. At undergraduate level, the wide range of courses leading to professional qualification include programmes in nursing (including a number of specialist awards in such areas as palliative and coronary care), speech and language therapy, dietetics, human nutrition, podiatry, radiography, occupational therapy and physiotherapy.