Strengthening the public health workforce through competency-based education: case of Ukraine

The Ukrainian public health system is rapidly evolving in response to health reform, war-related challenges, and demographic shifts. This creates a need for a well-prepared, adaptable workforce with competencies aligned to modern practice and national priorities. As the “One Health” approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health, remains new in Ukraine, there is demand for professionals with relevant knowledge, interdisciplinary skills, and leadership capacity. To address this, under initiative and coordination of the WHO Country Office in Ukraine, the School of Public Health at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy reviewed existing curriculum for Master of Public Health students using a competency-mapping tool developed by WHO Collaborating Centre at Maastricht University (WHO CC) to find the gaps in competencies required for implementing “One Health” approach. The exercise was grounded on the existing competency frameworks such as the WHO-ASPHER Competency Framework for the Public Health Workforce in the European Region and others. To cover missing competencies, a unique course “Leadership in One Health” was developed and integrated into the educational program. The course was designed with the support of WHO CC using the best pedagogical practices and interdisciplinary approaches, aligned with European recommendations and adapted to the national context. The course includes modules on One Health and Leadership, Safety and Protection, Governance and Policy, Prevention and Control, and Ethics and Professional Development. The teaching approach is grounded in problem-based and blended learning methodologies, incorporating interactive methods with practical case studies and simulation exercises. This experience demonstrates how European competency frameworks can be adapted to national contexts through curriculum design and international collaboration, providing a scalable model for integrating relevant competencies into education.

Key messages

• Competency-based education is essential for building an adaptable and skilled public health workforce, aligned with evolving health system needs across Europe.

• The presented Ukrainian case shows a transferable model for assessing and upgrading public health curriculum in applying modern practices and addressing national priorities.