Essential core competencies for health policy doctoral graduates

Article type
Authors
Doshmangir L1, Mostafavi H2, Takian A3
1Health Services Management Research Center, Iranian Center of Excellence in Health Management, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz
2Vice-Chancellor’s Office in Treatment Affairs, Health Economy Department, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
3Department of Global Health and Public Policy, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
Abstract
Background:
Competency-based training has gained much relevance in recent years, because of its potential to contribute to knowledge and skills development. This paper explains a set of core competencies required for health policy graduates, aiming to prepare doctoral students for a spectrum of future roles, i.e. academic and nonacademic.


Methods:
We used a three-phase qualitative study: 1) a critical review of the literature; 2) 74 face to face and email-based semi-structured interviews and 3) validating the identified competencies through face to face consultations with qualified experts.

Results:
We identified five core competencies without specific order including research, policy analysis, education, decision making, and communication.

Conclusions:
The development of evidence-based and updated approaches are essential to identify core competencies for responsive and competency-based education, aiming to improve teaching and learning processes. As countries are gearing up towards sustainable development goals (SDGs), the role of health policy graduates is crucial to pave the pathway towards SDG 3 on health and well-being. Appropriate and contextually-tailored curriculum, as outlined above, is pivotal, we envisage, to foster multi-dimensional competencies that are complementary to the specific disciplines of health policy scholars of future, those who can genuinely serve their health systems towards sustainable health development.

Patient or healthcare consumer involvement:
No patient or healthcare consumer was involved in the study.