Multilingual Approach to COVID-19 Online Learning Response on OpenWHO.org

Heini Utunen; Ngouille Ndiaye; Melissa Attias; Lama Mattar; Anna Tokar; Gaya Gamhewage

doi:10.3233/SHTI210892

Multilingual Approach to COVID-19 Online Learning Response on OpenWHO.org

Heini Utunen, Ngouille Ndiaye, Melissa Attias, Lama Mattar, Anna Tokar, Gaya Gamhewage

Communication Sciences

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

13 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In pursuit of equitable access to emergency-related knowledge, the World Health Organization (WHO) translates COVID-19 and other infectious disease courses into multiple languages on its open-access online learning platform OpenWHO.org. Languages spoken by vulnerable or underserved populations in low- and middle-income countries and in outbreak-prone and affected areas are prioritized. Accessing learning in preferred languages enhances uptake and comprehension. In this study, we assess and compare the initial enrollment levels and global reach of these multilingual courses. On average, OpenWHO's 38 COVID-19 courses have each been translated into 4.8 languages. The platform hosts courses in 55 different languages with 10.4 million words translated. The findings identify which available languages were most utilized for COVID-19 learning to inform course production and outreach strategies. Languages were used differently across geographic regions, calling for localized learning offerings. A streamlined multilingual publishing scheme, ensuring quick and effective delivery of diverse languages, is critical to achieving greater equity of access to knowledge.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Informatics and Technology in Clinical Care and Public Health
Editors	John Mantas, Arie Hasman, Mowafa S. Househ, Parisis Gallos, Emmanouil Zoulias, Joseph Liaskos
Publisher	IOS Press
Pages	192-195
Number of pages	4
ISBN (Electronic)	978-1-64368-251-8
ISBN (Print)	978-1-64368-250-1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3233/SHTI210892
Publication status	Published - 2022
Publication type	A4 Article in conference proceedings
Event	International Conference on Informatics, Management, and Technology in Healthcare - Online, Athens, Greece Duration: 16 Oct 2021 → 17 Oct 2021 Conference number: 19

Publication series

Name	Studies in Health Technology and Informatics
Volume	289
ISSN (Print)	0926-9630
ISSN (Electronic)	1879-8365

Conference

Conference	International Conference on Informatics, Management, and Technology in Healthcare
Abbreviated title	ICIMTH 2021
Country/Territory	Greece
City	Athens
Period	16/10/21 → 17/10/21

Keywords

COVID-19
Education, Distance
Humans
Multilingualism
SARS-CoV-2
World Health Organization

Publication forum classification

Publication forum level 1

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.3233/SHTI210892Licence: CC BY-NC

Multilingual Approach to COVIDFinal published version, 138 KBLicence: CC BY-NC

https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202208046223Licence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

Utunen, H., Ndiaye, N., Attias, M., Mattar, L., Tokar, A., & Gamhewage, G. (2022). Multilingual Approach to COVID-19 Online Learning Response on OpenWHO.org. In J. Mantas, A. Hasman, M. S. Househ, P. Gallos, E. Zoulias, & J. Liaskos (Eds.), Informatics and Technology in Clinical Care and Public Health (pp. 192-195). (Studies in Health Technology and Informatics; Vol. 289). IOS Press. https://doi.org/10.3233/SHTI210892

Utunen, Heini ; Ndiaye, Ngouille ; Attias, Melissa et al. / Multilingual Approach to COVID-19 Online Learning Response on OpenWHO.org. Informatics and Technology in Clinical Care and Public Health. editor / John Mantas ; Arie Hasman ; Mowafa S. Househ ; Parisis Gallos ; Emmanouil Zoulias ; Joseph Liaskos. IOS Press, 2022. pp. 192-195 (Studies in Health Technology and Informatics).

@inproceedings{e141d7e204504a0d9daa89dd183eb9a2,

title = "Multilingual Approach to COVID-19 Online Learning Response on OpenWHO.org",

abstract = "In pursuit of equitable access to emergency-related knowledge, the World Health Organization (WHO) translates COVID-19 and other infectious disease courses into multiple languages on its open-access online learning platform OpenWHO.org. Languages spoken by vulnerable or underserved populations in low- and middle-income countries and in outbreak-prone and affected areas are prioritized. Accessing learning in preferred languages enhances uptake and comprehension. In this study, we assess and compare the initial enrollment levels and global reach of these multilingual courses. On average, OpenWHO's 38 COVID-19 courses have each been translated into 4.8 languages. The platform hosts courses in 55 different languages with 10.4 million words translated. The findings identify which available languages were most utilized for COVID-19 learning to inform course production and outreach strategies. Languages were used differently across geographic regions, calling for localized learning offerings. A streamlined multilingual publishing scheme, ensuring quick and effective delivery of diverse languages, is critical to achieving greater equity of access to knowledge.",

keywords = "COVID-19, Education, Distance, Humans, Multilingualism, SARS-CoV-2, World Health Organization",

author = "Heini Utunen and Ngouille Ndiaye and Melissa Attias and Lama Mattar and Anna Tokar and Gaya Gamhewage",

note = "JUFOID=67818; International Conference on Informatics, Management, and Technology in Healthcare, ICIMTH 2021 ; Conference date: 16-10-2021 Through 17-10-2021",

year = "2022",

doi = "10.3233/SHTI210892",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-1-64368-250-1",

series = "Studies in Health Technology and Informatics",

publisher = "IOS Press",

pages = "192--195",

editor = "John Mantas and Arie Hasman and Househ, {Mowafa S.} and Parisis Gallos and Emmanouil Zoulias and Joseph Liaskos",

booktitle = "Informatics and Technology in Clinical Care and Public Health",

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}

Utunen, H, Ndiaye, N, Attias, M, Mattar, L, Tokar, A & Gamhewage, G 2022, Multilingual Approach to COVID-19 Online Learning Response on OpenWHO.org. in J Mantas, A Hasman, MS Househ, P Gallos, E Zoulias & J Liaskos (eds), Informatics and Technology in Clinical Care and Public Health. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, vol. 289, IOS Press, pp. 192-195, International Conference on Informatics, Management, and Technology in Healthcare, Athens, Greece, 16/10/21. https://doi.org/10.3233/SHTI210892

Multilingual Approach to COVID-19 Online Learning Response on OpenWHO.org. / Utunen, Heini; Ndiaye, Ngouille; Attias, Melissa et al.
Informatics and Technology in Clinical Care and Public Health. ed. / John Mantas; Arie Hasman; Mowafa S. Househ; Parisis Gallos; Emmanouil Zoulias; Joseph Liaskos. IOS Press, 2022. p. 192-195 (Studies in Health Technology and Informatics; Vol. 289).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Multilingual Approach to COVID-19 Online Learning Response on OpenWHO.org

AU - Utunen, Heini

AU - Ndiaye, Ngouille

AU - Attias, Melissa

AU - Mattar, Lama

AU - Tokar, Anna

AU - Gamhewage, Gaya

N1 - Conference code: 19

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - In pursuit of equitable access to emergency-related knowledge, the World Health Organization (WHO) translates COVID-19 and other infectious disease courses into multiple languages on its open-access online learning platform OpenWHO.org. Languages spoken by vulnerable or underserved populations in low- and middle-income countries and in outbreak-prone and affected areas are prioritized. Accessing learning in preferred languages enhances uptake and comprehension. In this study, we assess and compare the initial enrollment levels and global reach of these multilingual courses. On average, OpenWHO's 38 COVID-19 courses have each been translated into 4.8 languages. The platform hosts courses in 55 different languages with 10.4 million words translated. The findings identify which available languages were most utilized for COVID-19 learning to inform course production and outreach strategies. Languages were used differently across geographic regions, calling for localized learning offerings. A streamlined multilingual publishing scheme, ensuring quick and effective delivery of diverse languages, is critical to achieving greater equity of access to knowledge.

AB - In pursuit of equitable access to emergency-related knowledge, the World Health Organization (WHO) translates COVID-19 and other infectious disease courses into multiple languages on its open-access online learning platform OpenWHO.org. Languages spoken by vulnerable or underserved populations in low- and middle-income countries and in outbreak-prone and affected areas are prioritized. Accessing learning in preferred languages enhances uptake and comprehension. In this study, we assess and compare the initial enrollment levels and global reach of these multilingual courses. On average, OpenWHO's 38 COVID-19 courses have each been translated into 4.8 languages. The platform hosts courses in 55 different languages with 10.4 million words translated. The findings identify which available languages were most utilized for COVID-19 learning to inform course production and outreach strategies. Languages were used differently across geographic regions, calling for localized learning offerings. A streamlined multilingual publishing scheme, ensuring quick and effective delivery of diverse languages, is critical to achieving greater equity of access to knowledge.

KW - COVID-19

KW - Education, Distance

KW - Humans

KW - Multilingualism

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - World Health Organization

U2 - 10.3233/SHTI210892

DO - 10.3233/SHTI210892

M3 - Conference contribution

C2 - 35062125

SN - 978-1-64368-250-1

T3 - Studies in Health Technology and Informatics

SP - 192

EP - 195

BT - Informatics and Technology in Clinical Care and Public Health

A2 - Mantas, John

A2 - Hasman, Arie

A2 - Househ, Mowafa S.

A2 - Gallos, Parisis

A2 - Zoulias, Emmanouil

A2 - Liaskos, Joseph

PB - IOS Press

T2 - International Conference on Informatics, Management, and Technology in Healthcare

Y2 - 16 October 2021 through 17 October 2021

ER -

Utunen H, Ndiaye N, Attias M, Mattar L, Tokar A, Gamhewage G. Multilingual Approach to COVID-19 Online Learning Response on OpenWHO.org. In Mantas J, Hasman A, Househ MS, Gallos P, Zoulias E, Liaskos J, editors, Informatics and Technology in Clinical Care and Public Health. IOS Press. 2022. p. 192-195. (Studies in Health Technology and Informatics). doi: 10.3233/SHTI210892

Multilingual Approach to COVID-19 Online Learning Response on OpenWHO.org

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

Publication forum classification

UN SDGs

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