Global Health Competencies: A collaborative approach

The Association of Schools of Public Health represents the 46 Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)-accredited schools of public health (SPHs) and ASPH Associate Members. In August 2009 a Global Health Core Competency Development Project and Task Force were established by ASPH to develop a set of global health core competencies, as a framework for SPHs with the goal of promoting population health, safety, and well-being at local and global levels by enhancing the global health competence of SPH students. The aims of the ASPH in the project are to respond to new perspectives regarding global health and provide leadership to the field; promote that global health is public health; clarify the role of academic public health within a system approach to global health; and fortify the next generation of global health professionals with a solid science-based foundation to their practice.

The leadership group, chaired by Dr. Pierre Buekens, was formed by representatives of various universities. Seven competency domains were identified: Capacity building; collaboration and partnering; ethical reasoning and professional practice; health equity and social justice leadership; project and process management; socio-cultural and political awareness; strategic analysis and evaluation.

Finally, workgroups from accredited schools were formed to identify the core competencies for each domain that will be presented in the session.