Gold for KIT: Fifty-year anniversary Masters degree program in international and public health

4 October 2013

Forty-three students from twenty different countries started on 23 September 2013 with the fiftieth edition of the Master of Public Health/International Course in Health Development at the Royal Tropical Institute.

Health professionals from around the world – doctors, nurses, program managers and employees from national ministries of health – will gain additional knowledge and skills in the coming year in Amsterdam. This will enable them to contribute in their own country to improve health care: from organization, monitoring and evaluation of programs to managing staff, conducting research and the formulation of health policies.

Leaders in International Health

Prisca Zwanikken, director KIT training: “Alumni of KIT get higher positions after graduating and contribute to health policy at district, regional and national level. Often they also pass on their knowledge to local health professionals by teaching at universities and training institutes. This way we contribute as KIT to the training of future leaders in health care in low and middle income countries.”

Strong history , modern approach

The International Course in Health Development (ICHD) is established in 1963 year to develop further the skills of local health professionals from the South so they could formulate themselves the best solutions for health problems in their country. The ICHD is now given in collaboration with the Free University of Amsterdam (VU), is NVAO accredited and leads to a Master of Public Health degree.
The ICHD responds to current developments in the health field in the world. It is known for the practical applicability of the curriculum, the multidisciplinary approach and the interactive , participatory training methods where students play an important role themselves with their experience and knowledge. As a response to the need in the field KIT offers already for several years a specialisation in HIV and AIDS and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. At the same time by bringing together people from different parts of the world the program provides a valuable forum for the exchange of knowledge and experience from different countries.

Students

Indra Kala Tamang from Nepal just started the MPH/ICHD at the KIT. During the opening ceremony she says about her expectations: “I follow this course to get in depth knowledge of public health aspects in order to improve the health situation in my country”. Amos Gborie from Liberia adds: “As a participant from a post conflict country as Liberia, where there are high incidences of infectious diseases, my expectation from the ICHD/MPH is to obtain in depth understanding on control strategies for infectious diseases”.

KIT is proud to host in academic year 2013-2014 students from all over the world: from Egypt to Zimbabwe, Afghanistan tot Myanmar. But also from Ireland, America, Brazil, and the Netherlands.

For more information about the courses, see our brochures, website or contact us at courses@kit.nl
Would you like to give more health professionals the opportunity to study at KIT? This is possible with a donation to the newly established KIT Scholarship Fund. See for more information: www.kit.nl/kit-scholarship-fund