Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation, has launched a postgraduate programme, Master of Public Health (MPH) which is the inaugural academic programme of its College of Public Health.
Dr Khaled Ben Letaief, provost of HBKU, launched the programme at an event held at the Marwan Club within Education City yesterday.
Classes for the first cohort of students will start in Fall semester 2016 with applications now being accepted. Online application and all supporting documents must be submitted on or before March 1.
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognised institution. They must also have an excellent undergraduate academic record with at least one course in biology and one in math or statistics.
They are required to take an  IELTS or TOEFL examination to demonstrate their proficiency in English. Applicants who have completed their bachelor’s degree at a university where the primary language of instruction is English can seek a waiver for this requirement.
The new programme will use an innovative approach to multidisciplinary education to help create Qatar’s future leaders in public health. The programme aims to equip its graduates with the targeted skills to promote health within societies, prevent ill health, and stop the spread of disease.
The programme will focus on the five core elements of public health: epidemiology, environmental health, biostatistics, health policy and management, and social sciences in public health. As part of the programme, students will be given the opportunity to intern within local and international organisations, including hospitals and non-government organisations, where public health is a priority.
Dr Letaief said: “Many of HBKU’s multidisciplinary programmes place an emphasis on exploring the most pressing challenges facing society, and encourage students to conduct research that will have positive real-world impact. This new Master of Public Health programme will play a vital role in training individuals to become highly accomplished leaders in their field.”
The MPH aims to equip students with analytical and strategic planning tools to understand the ways in which societal, cultural, psychological, economic, and political processes affect health, illness, and adequate health care delivery. Graduates will be provided with the knowledge and skills to work effectively at the national or international level in healthcare, health policy and public health.
Dr Walid Alali, co-ordinator of the MPH programme noted: “The programme is structured to provide participants with a profound understanding of the multi-layered nature of public health challenges in the 21st century, with local community outreach a requisite component of the programme. Students will be tasked with translating what they learn into concrete methods to build, or improve, the public health programmes of neighbourhoods, community organisations, or the government in Qatar.”