Contribution of Master of Public Health training program, Hanoi School of Public Health to its alumni competencies application and career development: Alumni survey

Abstract

      Hanoi School of Public Health has pioneered the Master of Public Health (MPH) training program since 1997. This research aimed to evaluate impact of the MPH program on its alumni’s application of public health competencies and career development after graduation. This was a cross-sectional research, with a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to all 359 alumni from 9 cohorts, between 2002-2010 (the response rate was 52.4%). In-depth interviews were carried out with 28 people including alumni, his/her manager and colleagues. Results revealed a high rate, more than 90%, of 7 public health competencies application among alumni. The training program contributed to alumni’s application of those competencies (almost 80%), to some extent. The program was evaluated to contribute most substantially to alumni’s change to a better working organization and promotion to managerial position, at 49.4% and 63.7% respectively.

The MPH training program needs to be further improved to enhance alumni’s competencies applicability, with emphasis on those competencies related to policy development, advocacy, intersectoral collaboration, and cultural sensitivity.