International policy and projects
The development of international relations in the fields of :
- training for health and social sector professionals,
- higher education in public health
- and research in public health,
represents in itself one of the specific missions of EHESP.
In the past 15 years, EHESP has become a major actor in public health, at the international level. The School is an active member of various professional, academic and scientific international networks.
Bilateral memorandums of understanding have been signed with a large number of foreign universities and schools of public health. EHESP is a leading actor in international conferences and is valued as an effective partner in leading international cooperation projects.
EHESP is committed to developing its contribution to the international public health debate, through international research and training projects in the fields of healthcare and social care facilities management, epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, social and behavioural sciences, and nursing and paramedical sciences.
EHESP’s international development project centres around 3 major priorities.
Priority 1 : To provide capacity building and reinforcement for human resources in the healthcare and welfare sector throughout the world
The management of healthcare, social and welfare facilities, the training of public health professionals, medical and pharmaceutical inspection, expertise in public and environmental health are key domains of EHESP’s excellence in training programmes as well as in research. Over the last two decades the School has shared its competences with foreign partners within several different cooperation programmes, jointly led by EHESP lecturers and experts in collaboration with local institutional partners.
EHESP provides support to foreign partners to set up short or long-term training programmes for the healthcare and welfare professionals, adapted to the country’s needs and context.
Priority 2 : To engage into international higher education in public health through the internationalization of training courses
EHESP offers a range of degree courses open to international students. These are delivered in French or English with compatible curricula and transferable credits,. In line with this policy, since 2008 , EHESP offers the only Master of Public Health in France, taught in English. EHESP also plays an active role in European higher education by coordinating an Erasmus Mundus programme: the European Public Health Degree, in partnership with 5 European universities. EHESP is keen to develop its international course programmes and strengthen international academic partnerships, and has the aim of making its training courses more attractive for international students. With this in mind all foreign students are offered practical and social support once enrolled and during their stay in France.
In parallel EHESP encourages international mobility (both outgoing and incoming) for students as well as for teaching and administrative staff. This is achieved through specific partnerships with a small number of institutions to implement sustainable mobility programmes. Visiting lecturers from different foreign universities are invited as guest speakers within our courses. International placements are also an integral part of our student training programmes. Field placement opportunities are offered every year in around 30 countries.
Moreover, EHESP is committed to diversity in its human resource policy. This involves both recruitment of foreign staff and lecturers with international experience.
Priority 3 : To contribute to international research in public health
Over the coming years, EHESP is committed to increasing its contribution to international public health research. The School has been accredited since 2008 as an interdisciplinary doctoral network in public health, in partnership with 9 French higher education institutions. We encourage applications from international PhD students and aim to foster joint international supervision of PhDs.
Within EHESP, many departments, laboratories and interdisciplinary research centres coordinate or participate in international public health research projects funded by French or multilateral donors.
EHESP researchers are actively involved in publishing books and writing articles in international peer-review journals on a regular basis. They also submit communications on their research results to international conferences. From autumn 2009, the “Presses de l’EHESP” will also be periodically issuing a scientific public health journal in English, “Public Health Reviews“.
EHESP since 2008 has been organizing an annual international conference, the European meeting of EHESP School of Public Health, dealing with research themes in public health. The 1st European meeting in October 2008 dealt with themes such as ageing, obesity and emerging diseases.
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