The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) has been honoured with the 2025 ASPIRE-to-Excellence Award for International Collaboration in Health Professions Education for its long-standing partnership with the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA).
Since 2007, the RCSI-COSECSA collaboration has addressed the shortage of surgical care across sub-Saharan Africa by providing high-quality training in surgery, anaesthesia, perioperative nursing, and obstetrics. Over 1,500 COSECSA surgical trainees from 20 member countries have benefited, with most graduates remaining in the region to train the next generation of surgeons, performing 300–400 major surgeries annually.
The award recognises the programme’s long-term impact, shared leadership, and cultural engagement. RCSI’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Cathal Kelly, highlighted the collaboration’s role in improving health outcomes in underserved communities and its contribution to sustainable surgical services.
This marks RCSI’s second ASPIRE-to Excellence Award, reflecting its commitment to global health, innovation in surgical education, and alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 for good health and well-being.
Source: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
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