Welcome to our Summer School Pages

Students and staff of Summer School 2009

Reflections from our 2009 intake:
The International Observatory on End of life Care has just completed its two week International Research Summer School, involving 18 participants from Uganda, Kenya, Albania, Spain, China and the USA as well as the UK. David Clark, Director of the Observatory, said that it had been among the most successful of the five summer schools held to date. Godfrey Agupio, of Hospice Africa Uganda commented that 'the course not only equipped me with research skills and confidence but also included leadership, communication, philosophical reflection and a sense of value for self and others which was really a special strength'. Whilst Eva Eggenberger, a medical student from Vienna said: 'The Observatory Summer School was just like an international dream come true. It substantially broadened my mind in terms of research methodology and I was able to make new friends in the field of palliative care'.

The purpose of the Summer School is to provide an ‘advanced introduction’ to social research methods relevant to end of life care.  The course is ‘advanced’ in the sense that you will be taught by expert researchers who will develop students' knowledge of selected methodologies to a high level.  It is also an ‘introduction’ in that it assumes no prior knowledge of research methods in the social sciences and is aimed at those at an early stage in developing their own research.

The Summer School is held annually over a period of one week. This week focuses on a classroom-based in-depth introduction to social research methods in end of life care.

The course takes place at Lancaster University, UK, home to the International Observatory on End of Life Care and a group of social scientists and clinicians with extensive experience in research on end of life issues.

We would like to express our gratitude to the Irish Hospice Foundation, who continue to generously donate funds in support of international student bursaries each year.