EU project in capacity building of public health in Israel
The world and healthcare are in constant change. In order for those working in the sector to be able to meet the needs and for public health work to continue to develop, cooperation is required. A new article presents how European and Israeli universities will collaborate in a three-year project with the goal of jointly developing the public health workforce of the future by sharing knowledge and experiences.
"This is the first published article in a three-year project that started in 2021 and where the Swedish Red Cross University College is one of five European partners. The EU project is entitled 'Sharing European Educational Experience in Public Health for Israel (SEEEPHI): harmonization, employability, leadership, and outreach' — a multinational Erasmus + Capacity Building in Higher Education funded project. By sharing European educational experience and knowledge, the project aims to improve professionalism and strengthen the leadership aspects of public health education in Israel to meet the needs of employers and the country", explains Stéphanie Paillard-Borg, associate professor at the Swedish Red Cross University College and responsible for the collaborative project at the university.
Workforce competence is key
Healthcare relies above all on a qualified workforce. Well-trained staff in public health promotes health, counteracts health inequalities and enables adequate help in emergency situations. Training of health care professionals often focuses on the further training of doctors or nurses working to cure diseases. Further training of nurses in order to improve public health or efforts to identify gaps between employees and the needs of healthcare organizations are lacking.
"This project report describes the framework for the project "Sharing European Educational Experience in Public Health for Israel (SEEEPHI) which focuses on harmonization, employability, leadership, and outreach", says Stéphanie Paillard-Borg.
Professional development and strengthening of leadership in public health
The project is multinational and funded by the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education programme. By sharing European educational experience and knowledge, the project aims to further develop professionalism and strengthen the leadership aspects of public health in Israel to meet the needs of employers and the country. The work packages, all led jointly by an Israeli and European institution, include field analysis of qualifications, mapping of public health science education programmes, adaptation to the labour market and the building of leadership skills.
"In a time of global health change, capacity building of a well-qualified and competent workforce is central. It makes it possible to provide good health services, reach out to minorities, prevent health inequalities and meet new health challenges. We hope that the methods developed, and the lessons learned within the Israeli context will be adaptable and adoptable by other countries through local and cultural adjustments", says Stéphanie Paillard-Borg.
More information
Contact
Stéphanie Paillard Borg, associate professor, senior lecturer at the Swedish Red Cross University College, the Department of Health Sciences, e-mail: stephanie.paillard-borg@rkh.se