Expanding Global Health and Education Collaboration in Botswana
Penn and Botswana partners launch a new initiative to expand neurocognitive assessment and support in public schools. Led by Drs. Lowenthal, Scott, and Wolf, the project deepens global collaboration to improve child health and education outcomes in Botswana.
We are pleased to announce a new phase of collaboration between the University of Pennsylvania and the Botswana Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD), alongside the Botswana-Baylor Children’s Clinical Centre of Excellence (BBCCCOE). Drs. Liz Lowenthal (Penn’s Dept. of Pediatrics/CHOP), J. Cobb Scott (Penn’s Dept. of Psychiatry), and Sharon Wolf (Penn’s Graduate School of Education) are leading a project to extend the use of the culturally adapted Penn Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (CNB) to support the assessment and intervention for children with neurocognitive challenges in Botswana’s public schools.
Building on a longstanding partnership, this initiative aligns with national education priorities and will be supported by generous co-funding from Penn Global's Global Research & Engagement Grant, the Botswana Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education, the Botswana-Baylor Children’s Clinical Centre of Excellence, and the CHOP Global Health Center. The project also represents an exciting interdisciplinary collaboration, with Dr. Wolf bringing expertise in early childhood development and education systems in sub-Saharan Africa.
The initiative not only promises to improve educational outcomes in Botswana but also provides rich global research and learning opportunities for Penn students across disciplines. We look forward to the continued impact of this partnership in promoting child health and education on a global scale.