Published in:
01-06-2018 | Original Paper
Best Practices in Global Health Practicums: Recommendations from the Association of Pacific Rim Universities
Authors:
Mellissa Withers, Mu Li, Giselle Manalo, Senice So, Heather Wipfli, Hoon Eng Khoo, Joseph Tsung-Shu Wu, Hsien-Ho Lin
Published in:
Journal of Community Health
|
Issue 3/2018
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Excerpt
Global health education programs play a critical role in developing a competent workforce and leaders poised and able to address current and future global health challenges. Due to overwhelming student demand for education in this emerging field, numerous academic institutions around the world now offer degrees or concentrations specifically related to global health. This growth has also led a number of relevant academic groups, including the Consortium of Global Health Universities and the Association of Public Health Programs and Schools, to outline global health competencies to help guide schools in curriculum development [
1,
3,
4,
8,
33]. A common theme of these lists of competencies is the recognition that global health expertise goes beyond public health training; it requires additional skills relevant to global health and development to make contextual change and population impact, including appreciation for different political and health systems, cultural competence, and the ability to work in diverse multi-cultural teams [
12]. Many of these competencies are best acquired through real-life practice, rather than in the classroom. Acknowledging this, academic programs in global health often recommend, or even require, that students to complete practicums (also called international rotations, electives, placements or internships) abroad. Generally, they are short-term (between 2 and 8 weeks) opportunities for students to work with a host institution abroad. …