Public Health Education in Europe: Old and New Challenges

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to discuss some of the current challenges faced by European schools of public health. Perhaps most remarkable on the continent is the diversity, the magnitude, and the rapidity of the developments in public health education since the Second World War. This article discusses its evolution, its main characteristics and the underlying rationale with several examples. Further, it addresses specific aspects of the future development, namely the collaboration of academic schools with practice-oriented institutions, as well as the interactions between the constituent disciplines of public health. The Bologna process on postgraduate education in Europe has had an important impact on the overall design of most schools. There is a willingness to develop public health in each country of the European region and there is a need to develop common strategies to reach high standards in teaching, training and researching in all disciplines related to public health.

Information needs of public health students

“…In the United States, it has grown from 12 schools in the 1960s to 50 schools and 101 programmes in 2013 . While firm numbers are not available, the same rapid increase in the number of public health programmes is seen in Europe, where it is estimated that there are over 100 different programmes or degrees offered …”

“…35,40 In the United States, it has grown from 12 schools in the 1960s 41 to 50 schools and 101 programmes in 2013. 42 While firm numbers are not available, the same rapid increase in the number of public health programmes is seen in Europe, 43 where it is estimated that there are over 100 different programmes or degrees offered. 44 This means that, in addition to the growing number of public health programmes and faculty requiring library services, there is also the need for liaison librarians that are able to recognise and accommodate the needs of a diverse student body who are all trying to access the vast and often poorly organised public health evidence.…”

Evaluation of Public Health Education and Workforce Needs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

“…A study from Nepal reported there is a need for trained public health professionals in Nepal and educational institutions requires development of effective graduate programs [32]. The accreditation of the public health schools is an essential step toward the improvement and standardization of teaching programs as well as the establishment of competencies [33]. The affiliations of SPH to the local government will probably improve the balance between the needs of government and the autonomy of academic schools [33].…”

“…The accreditation of the public health schools is an essential step toward the improvement and standardization of teaching programs as well as the establishment of competencies [33]. The affiliations of SPH to the local government will probably improve the balance between the needs of government and the autonomy of academic schools [33]. The public health schools should focus on research process of public health such as planning, evaluation, surveillance, investigation, and problem and pathway analyses.…”

Editorial: Education for a Public Health Workforce in Europe and Globally

“…8 The experience of public health education in Western Europe, reviewed by Paccaud, Weihofen and Nocera, identifies the constraints faced by departments of public health based in medical faculties, still the dominant position in many countries. 7 The emergence of new schools of public health in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, reviewed by Adany and colleagues 9 illustrates the challenges, and some solutions, in moving from a very narrow conceptualization of public health, characterized by the Soviet model of sanitary and epidemiological functions, with their focus on infectious disease, to one addressing the broader determinants of health. 27 Overall and Goodman present the vital role of non-governmental agencies such as the Soros Foundation in stimulating reform in public health education in the former socialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe.…”