New Public Health education in the Republic of Macedonia: expectations, experiences and perspectives

Type Journal Article - Journal of Public Health
Title New Public Health education in the Republic of Macedonia: expectations, experiences and perspectives
Author(s)
Volume 14
Issue 4
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2006
Page numbers 217-223
URL https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10389-006-0047-3
Abstract
Development of a strategy in public health (PH) education is crucial for Macedonia in providing modern education for actual PH practice. Establishing a School of Public Health (SPH) is vital for a country in a health transition with high rates of preventable diseases. The main strategic goals in modern PH education in Macedonia should be capacity building, improving the competencies of PH professionals, serving communities, participating in the policy, and partnership development. Expectations were expressed through two key points: strengthening institutional capacity in the area of PH and institutional development of SPH. The organizational structure of the new Center of Public Health is based on existing human resources and infrastructure. Medical Faculty initiated development of a postgraduate PH teaching program [Master of Public Health (MPH)] provided by the newly formed Center of Public Health within the Medical Faculty Skopje. The Macedonian MPH program has been developed with modular-type courses as a part-time teaching program in four semesters within a 2-year period. This program is designed to cover all the basics of PH sciences and practice, including basic and elective courses, workshops, research forum. and master's thesis with a credit transfer system in PH education. The main assets for SPH development are knowledge and skills of the constantly improving teaching staff. Successful preliminary evaluation of the Macedonian SPH project, being qualified “as a model for SPH development,” led to full Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER) membership. Sustainability of this program will require continuing support although a remarkable beginning has been achieved. The next strategic goal is continuing development of SPH with fiscal and academic autonomy and preparing formal ASPHER Public Health Education European Review (PEER). This SPH recognized the main communicating message of the New Public Health: “Moving with the time.” New Public Health is determined by a dual approach: to be modern, and to grow and to build the tradition in PH education. The development of Macedonian SPH represents a new orientation toward science, philosophy, culture, and life and promotes new spirit and movement in PH in this region of Europe.

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