During November 7-17, 2005 the students attended the 'Maternal and Child Nutrition' course, instructed by Lotta Ekstrom, Uppsala University and Tahmeed Ahmed, ICDDR, B. The first part of the course was held in Matlab and the second part of it at ICDDR, B. In addition to our MPH students, 15 students from Uppsala University (have an MOU with the School of Public Health) attended the course as well. From November 20-24, 2005 the MPH students completed the 'Aging and Health' course, co-taught by Zarina Kabir and Ake Wahlin, from Karolinska Institute and Syed Masud Ahmed, BRAC. The final course in the second semester 'Human Resources for Health' held from November 26-28, 2005 was taught by Dr. Demissie Habte (International Director), School of Public Health. To prepare for the Independent study, on November 2 all of the students submitted research proposals and provided short presentations on their proposal/plans and methodology to the Core faculty, School of Public Health and some key staff from ICDDR, B. The agenda was to formally review and finalise existing proposals and provide critical feedback to each student before they embark on fieldwork. This process of discussing, preparing and reviewing research proposals began in early second semester (July), where students were encouraged to start thinking about possible dissertation topics for their end of year research study. Currently, students remain busy preparing for their research projects. Each student has been linked up to a key technical supervisor (within and outside the University) and will continue to work closely with Core faculty at the School, while working on their research project.