Global Health Competencies in Professional Practice: Insights from University of Belgrade MPH Alumni

Background

Global health (GH) competencies have been increasingly recognised as essential not only for healthcare workers but for professionals in other sectors. At the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade (MFUB), global health is incorporated as a subject within the Master of Public Health (MPH) study program. This study aimed to assess the frequency with which MPH alumni apply GH competencies in their professional roles.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among all MPH alumni from MFUB between October 2023 and February 2024 (in total 187). The survey assessed 51 GH competencies, grouped into 23 categories, based on the Global Public Health Curriculum developed by the ASPHER Section on Education for Global Public Health. Respondents rated the frequency of performing each competency using a five-point scale (1 - daily use, 5 - not at all). Expert validation and reliability analysis improved competency grouping, while ANOVA clarified differences by alumni organization type.

Results

Despite 13% being unemployed during their MPH, all respondents were employed at the time of the study. Nearly two-thirds worked in healthcare (37%) or education sector (24.1%). Internal consistency was strong across all 23 competency categories (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.70). Most frequently applied competencies in the workplace pertained to public health ethics (mean 2.90), public health leadership in a globalised world (3.12) and global public health workforce (3.78). Competency performance levels vary by organisation, except for universal health coverage and public health ethics, which are equally important across all.

Conclusions

The findings highlight key GH competencies that are most relevant in professional practice and should be emphasised in MPH programs. Further efforts are needed to compare use frequency with self-assessed competency levels, identify gaps, and align curriculum with real-world demands.

Key messages

• Specific GH competencies such as public health ethics and leadership in globalised world are frequently applied in the workplace by MPH alumni, highlighting their relevance for professional practice.

• Aligning MPH curricula with real-world demands requires continuous evaluation of how often graduates apply specific competencies and addressing any gaps between education and practice.